title: Anemia in the long-term ventilator-dependent patient with respiratory failure.
abstract: Anemia occurs in virtually all critically ill patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation and has been associated with increased mortality and poor outcomes. Allogeneic RBC transfusions are routinely administered to critically ill anemic patients, especially during lengthy stays in ICUs or in long-term acute care facilities. Although RBC transfusions are a physiologically rational approach to raising hemoglobin levels, they may increase the risk of complications and have been associated with higher mortality in critically ill patients. Treatment with epoetin alfa, an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, as a means of reducing transfusion requirements has been studied in the critically ill and in patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation. Promising results have been reported, including a potential survival benefit, although larger and more definitive studies are needed in order to establish whether raising hemoglobin levels affects clinical outcomes in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, 1653 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. msilver2@rush.edu
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001771:Blood Banks; D015897:Comorbidity; D016638:Critical Illness; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D015300:Ventilator Weaning
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa