Friday September 29, 2006
Phlebotomy and anemia in ICU

Phlebotomy in ICU is a major cause of anemia. With each draw of 100 ml of blood, Hb level drop by 0.7 gram/dl.

In latest report 1, "Anemia, transfusion and phlebotomy practices in critically ill patients with prolonged ICU length-of-stay" - study found that:

"In patients who are in ICU more than 21 days, blood draw of just 3.5 mL/day above average (average = 13.3 ml/day), was associated with a doubling of the odds of being transfused".

What it suggests: even very small reductions in phlebotomy volume, may significantly reduce the number of pRBC transfusions.

Do we really need blood counts, electrolytes, ABGs and other tests everyday in long-stayed ICU patients?


Related previous pearl: Phlebotomy and anemia in ICU


Reference: Click to get absract

Anemia, transfusion and phlebotomy practices in critically ill patients with prolonged ICU length-of-stay: a cohort study Critical Care 2006, 10:R140