Anemia and red blood cell transfusion in neurocritical care.

Anemia is a common problem in neurocritical care. Thresholds for transfusion have not been clearly established, but the 7 g/dL threshold widely used in critical care at present may be harmful for brain injured patients. The impact of anemia may not be the same for all neurocritical care conditions. Lower hemoglobin concentrations are associated with worst outcomes overall. However, aggressive transfusions may not alter the prognosis.

– Nikola Joly and Jean-Franois Hardy