Red blood cell use outside the operating theater: a prospective observational study with modeling of potential blood conservation during severe blood shortages.

This study in a tertiary referral center in the UK confirms that an increasing proportion of blood is transfused to medical patients compared to those undergoing surgery. Hemoglobin targets and the quantity of blood transfused are higher than recommended in current guidelines for the management of these patients. This study supports the need to examine blood use generally and specifically in medical patients.

– Michael Piagnerelli