[Results of a national survey on transfusion practice in Intensive Care Units].
BACKGROUND
Blood derivatives are clinical products that are currently used, for which their lack of availability, clinical relevance and presence of associated side effect that make it necessary to known and evaluate their utility rigorously are characteristic.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze knowledge of attitudes, knowledge and behavior on transfusional policy in the different Spanish Intensive Care Units (ICU).


METHODS
A mail-based survey (electronic and conventional) in the ICUs.


METHODS
The study was planned in 2005 and conducted during the year 2006.


METHODS
Spanish ICUs.


METHODS
A 27-question questionnaire.


RESULTS
Most are middle-sized ICUs (10-20 beds), with predominantly medical activities. The staff member, alone or with the resident, generally decides the transfusion based on his/her experience, although with a tendency to follow the scientific guidelines. Generally, there is no transfusional committee. When red blood packs are transfused, generally between 2 to 4 units are used. The hemoglobin value is orientative, although the decision is clear if < 7 g/dl (10 g/dl if there is heart disease). Drug alternatives to transfusion are not generally used due to lack of evidence and price. In 50% of cases, the association between transfusion and increase in mortality is considered to be certain.


CONCLUSIONS
Strong consideration must be made about transfusion and its over use should be avoided. For this purpose, educational guidelines and consensus meetings are necessary to establish recommendations on the use of blood products and their pharmacological alternatives.
Díaz
Manuel Quintana
MQ
Hospital Universitario La Paz. Madrid. España. mdiazq.hulp@salud.madrd.org
Casado
Marcelino Sánchez
MS
Leal Noval
Santiago Ramón
SR
García de Lorenzo Y Mateos
Abelardo
A
D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006454:Hemoglobins