title: Blood Transfusion Therapy.
abstract: Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) is a balance between providing benefit for patients while avoiding risks of transfusion. Randomized, controlled trials of restrictive RBC transfusion practices have shown equivalent patient outcomes compared with liberal transfusion practices, and meta-analyses have shown improved in-hospital mortality, reduced cardiac events, and reduced bacterial infections. This body of level 1 evidence has led to substantial, improved blood utilization and reduction of inappropriate blood transfusions with implementation of clinical decision support via electronic medical records, along with accompanying educational initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: ltgoodno@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Lawrence Tim
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Goodnough
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Anemia; Clinical decision support; Red blood cell transfusion; Restrictive transfusion practices