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Educated Hand Publishing LLC 
“The Science Behind the Art” 
Volume 8 - No.3 2020 

 Anesthesia eJournal - Online
ISSN 2333-2611

Page 10

Patient Blood Management
Brianna Berman, BSN, RN,
Affiliation:
Texas Christian University

Funding/Conflict of Interest Disclosure: 
None

Abstract
Patient blood management (PBM) recommendations can help providers manage anemia and assist in transfusion-
related decision-making.  Patient blood management (PBM) is based on three pillars: treatment of underlying anemia, 
minimizing blood loss, and the use of transfusion thresholds. Establishing hemoglobin levels that dictate transfusion 
thresholds can be either restrictive (transfusing at lower thresholds) or liberal (transfusing at higher thresholds). 
Current literature recommends restrictive transfusion thresholds (hemoglobin less than 7 gm/dL) with consideration 
for individual patient status.  A 56-year old male underwent an emergent exploratory laparotomy to locate a source 
of bleeding four days after having a hemicolectomy. He received one unit of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) in the 
intensive care unit overnight and arrived in the operating room (OR) on a phenylephrine drip. After induction, the 
patient required a vasopressin drip as well. The patient remained hemodynamically unstable and his hemoglobin was 
9.8 g/dL, thus, the decision was made to administer one unit of PRBCs in the OR. The patient remained unstable 
throughout the case and a hemoglobin recheck was 9.5 g/dL, so a second unit of PRBCs was given. The transfusion 
threshold utilized in this case was liberal (less than 10 g/dL).  Utilization of PBM can help guide transfusion decision-
making and decrease the number of blood products given without increasing patient morbidity or mortality.

AEJ



PowerPoint Template ©2009 Texas Christian University, Center for Instructional Services. For Educational Use Only. Content is the property of the presenter and their resources.

Purpose
• The purpose of this case study is to explore patient 

blood management (PBM) recommendations and 
transfusion thresholds.

Introduction
• Blood transfusions are often a necessary 

component of anesthetic management of the 
operative patient. 

• However, transfusions can have serious potential 
risks ranging from an allergic rash to a hemolytic 
reaction, and even death.

• Establishing guidelines for PBM can help mitigate 
risks and ensure that blood transfusions are 
appropriate.

• PBM is based on 3 “pillars”: treatment of underlying 
anemia, minimizing blood loss, and use of  
transfusion thresholds.1

• PBM helps determine in which patients the benefits 
of transfusion outweigh the risks.

Literature Search
• A literature search was performed utilizing these 

databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed.
• Six peer-reviewed articles published within the last 

eight years fit inclusion criteria and were selected. 

Recommendations
• Transfusion guidelines (see Table 2)
• Controlled hypotension (MAP 50-60 mmHg)6
• Goal-directed fluid therapy, fluid bolus pre-op6
• Avoid hypothermia and acidosis6
• Coagulation studies1
• Cell salvage1
• Accurate recording of intra-operative blood loss1
• Facility-specific PBM5
• Clinical decision-making tools incorporated into 

electronic documentation5

Patient Blood Management
Brianna Berman, BSN, RN, Texas Christian University

Hemoglobin Transfuse?

6 gm/dL or less Stable patient

7 gm/dL or less Stable patient

7.5 gm/dL or less Cardiac surgery

8 gm/dL or less Cardiac disease

10 gm/dL or greater Unstable patient, 
active bleed

VS Pre-op Post-op
HR 125 120

BP 120/75 97/58

SpO2 99% on RA 87% on 100% FiO2

RR 24 14

pH 7.455 7.194

pCO2 18.6 45.1

pO2 77.8 315.6

HCO3- 12.8 17

Base deficit -8.8 -10.8

Hemoglobin 9.8 9.5

Case Study
• 56 year-old male, 157.9 kg, BMI 47.2 presenting for 

emergent exploratory laparotomy for suspected 
bleeding after a hemicolectomy 4 days prior

• History: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, COPD, 
ADHD, and diabetes

• Patient received 1 unit PRBCs in ICU overnight
• Pre-op VS: See Table 1
• Patient arrived from ICU with a phenylephrine drip 

at 6 mcg/min
• After induction, the patient’s BP dropped to 80/50 

and was treated with: 600 mcg phenylephrine, 100 
mg calcium chloride, 3 units vasopressin, and 750 
ml 5% albumin. Phenylephrine drip was increased 
to 30 mcg/min and a vasopressin drip at 0.04 
units/min was added.

• Initial hemoglobin was < 10gm/dL so 1 unit PRBCs 
was given as the patient was unstable. Repeat 
hemoglobin was 9.5 so a second unit was given.

• Hemostasis was obtained and patient was taken to 
ICU intubated.

• Post-op VS: See Table 1
• The following morning the patient coded, was 

made a DNR by family, and ultimately passed away.

References
1. Zacharowski K, Spahn DR. Patient blood management equals patient safety. Best Practice & 

Research Clinical Anaesthesiology. 2016;30(2):159-169. doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2016.04.008.
2. Gammon R. Clinical Practice Guidelines from the AABB: Red Blood Cell Transfusion Thresholds and 

Storage. Blood News. 2018:1-2. Accessed December 18, 2019. Available from: 
https://hospitals.vitalant.org/getattachment/Home/2018-01-jan.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US. 

3. Mueller MM, Remoortel HV, Meybohm P, et al. Patient Blood Management - Recommendations from 
the First International Consensus Conference, Frankfurt, Germany. JAMA. 2019;134:983-997. 
doi:10.1182/blood-2019-130601.

4. Carson JL. Red Blood Cell Transfusion: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the AABB. Annals of 
Internal Medicine. 2012;157(1):49-58. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-156-12-201206190-00429.

5. Sadana D, Pratzer A, Scher LJ, et al. Promoting High-Value Practice by Reducing Unnecessary 
Transfusions With a Patient Blood Management Program. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2018;178(1):E1-
E7. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.6369.

6. Cinnella G, Pavesi M, Gasperi AD, Ranucci M, Mirabella L. Clinical standards for patient blood 
management and perioperative hemostasis and coagulation management. Position Paper of the 
Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI). Minerva 
Anestesiologica. 2019;85(6):635-664. doi:10.23736/s0375-9393.19.12151-7.

7. Bakaeen F. Will You Need a Blood Transfusion After Open Heart Surgery? Health Essentials from 
Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/blood-transfusions-after-open-heart-surgery/. 
Published March 28, 2017. Accessed February 19, 2020.

Summary
• PBM recommends utilizing strict transfusion 

thresholds unless the patient is unstable, or they 
are overtly bleeding.

• Controlled hypotension and goal-directly fluid 
therapy can decrease the need for transfusion.

• Consider the risks versus benefits of transfusion.
• Adhering to PBM reduces the number of blood 

products utilized, with no increase in patient 
morbidity/mortality.4,5,6

• Careful consideration of case-specific needs will 
help guide PBM.

Discussion
• Avoiding anemia in surgical patients is important in order to maintain the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity and 

maintain adequate ATP for cellular metabolism, and to ensure toxic waste such as CO2 is removed. 
• Major risks of blood transfusions include hemolytic reactions, acute lung injury, volume overload, and deadly 

infections such as hepatitis and HIV.2
• All patients should be screened for anemia and any underlying causes should be treated prior to surgery.3 Iron 

supplementation and short-acting erythropoietin are potential treatments.3
• Stricter transfusion thresholds (hemoglobin <7 gm/dL) are favorable.3 Transfusion thresholds increase with 

cardiac surgery, underlying cardiac disease, active bleeding, and symptomatic anemia.3,4 (See Table 2)
• If a transfusion is deemed necessary, Sadana et al. recommends the phrase “Why give 2 when 1 will do?”.5

Furthermore, a provider should wait 15 minutes after transfusion to re-check a hemoglobin to assess if further 
intervention is needed.2

• Several anesthesia-specific interventions can be utilized to minimize the need for blood transfusions.6
• Coagulation studies such as ROTEM or TEG can guide blood management and determine what type of blood 

product is needed.1
• Cell salvage techniques decrease transfusion needs and avoid potentially creating anemia pre-operatively as 

autologous transfusions can do.1
• Every facility should have a PBM system or transfusion guidelines in place.5

Case-Specific Discussion
• In this case, a liberal transfusion threshold was 

utilized (hemoglobin was less than 10 gm/dL).
• According to PBM guidelines, this was appropriate 

as the patient was hemodynamically unstable.
• One alternative to giving PRBCs would have been 

to get coagulation studies first to determine if 
PRBCs were the best option. Treating acidosis more 
aggressively may also have helped.

7

Table 2. Transfusion Recommendations 4

Table 1. Patient Vital Signs

Patient Blood Management

Treatment of 
anemia

Minimizing 
blood loss

Transfusion 
thresholds

Educated Hand Publishing LLC 
“The Science Behind the Art” 
Volume 8 - No.3 2020 

 Anesthesia eJournal - Online
ISSN 2333-2611

Page 11


