title: Transfusional profile in different types of intensive care units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  anemia is a common clinical finding in intensive care units. The red blood cell transfusion is the main form of treatment, despite the associated risks. Thus, we proposed to evaluate the profile of transfusional patients in different intensive care units.
  
  
  METHODS
  prospective analysis of patients admitted in the intensive care units of a tertiary university hospital with an indication for transfusion of packed red blood cells. Demographic profile and transfusional profile were collected, a univariate analysis was done, and the results were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  408 transfusions were analyzed in 71 patients. The mean hemoglobin concentration on admission was 9.7 ± 2.3g/dL and the pre-transfusional concentration was 6.9 ± 1.1g/dL. The main indications for transfusion were hemoglobin concentration (49%) and active bleeding (32%). The median number of units transfused per episode was 2 (1-2) and the median storage time was 14 (7-21) days. The number of patients transfused with hemoglobin levels greater than 7 g/dL and the number of bags transfused per episode were significantly different among intensive care units. Patients who received three or more transfusions had longer mechanical ventilation time and intensive care unit stay and higher mortality after 60 days. There was an association of mortality with disease severity but not with transfusional characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the practice of blood products transfusion was partially in agreement with the guidelines recommended, although there are differences in behavior between the different profiles of intensive care units. Transfused patients evolved with unfavorable outcomes. Despite the scarcity of blood in blood banks, the mean storage time of the bags was high.
authors.affiliation: Setor de Terapia Intensiva, Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dor e Medicina Intensiva da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ilusca Cardoso
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: Setor de Terapia Intensiva, Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dor e Medicina Intensiva da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Cesar Pontes
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Setor de Terapia Intensiva, Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dor e Medicina Intensiva da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando dos Reis
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.affiliation: Setor de Terapia Intensiva, Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dor e Medicina Intensiva da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Franco
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Hematologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Melca Maria Oliveira
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Setor de Terapia Intensiva, Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dor e Medicina Intensiva da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavio Geraldo Rezende
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Setor de Terapia Intensiva, Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dor e Medicina Intensiva da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: fmachado.dcir@epm.br.
authors.forename: Flávia Ribeiro
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy*; D001793:Blood Preservation; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: Blood components; Hemoglobin; Intensive therapy unit; Transfusion