scope of the problem epidemiology of anemia and use of blood transfusions in critical care贫血的流行病学问题范围和使用输血急救护理.pdfVIP

Available online /content/8/S2/S1 Review Scope of the problem: epidemiology of anemia and use of blood transfusions in critical care Lena M Napolitano Professor of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Correspondence: Lena M Napolitano, lnapolitano@ Published online: 14 June 2004 Critical Care 2004, 8(Suppl 2):S1-S8 (DOI 10.1186/cc2832) This article is online at /content/8/S2/S1 © 2004 BioMed Central Ltd Abstract Anemia is a common problem in critically ill patients. It is caused, in part, by blood loss related to phlebotomy for diagnostic testing, occult gastrointestinal bleeding, renal replacement therapies, surgical intervention, and traumatic injuries. Reduced red cell life span and nutritional deficiencies (iron, folate, vitamin B12) may be other contributing factors. In addition, critically ill patients have impaired erythropoiesis because of blunted endogenous erythropoietin production and the direct inhibitory effects of inflammatory cytokines on red blood cell production by the bone marrow. Blood transfusions are commonly utilized for treatment of anemia in critical care, resulting in high use of blood transfusions in the intensive care unit (ICU). The percentage of patients transfused in the ICU is inversely related to admission hemoglobin and directly related to age and severity of illness. Patients with an increased length of stay in the ICU are also at increased risk for receiving blood transfusions. Studies are needed to improve our understanding of the pathoph