The American College of Physicians (ACP) developed an algorithm for red blood cell transfusions in a patient with transient anemia following acute blood loss.
Clinical Finding |
Response |
hypovolemia |
replace intravascular volume with crystalloid solution |
normovolemic AND symptomatic for anemia AND autologous blood available |
transfuse with autologous blood |
normovolemic AND symptomatic for anemia AND autologous blood not available |
consider blood salvage with reinfusion; transfuse with allogeneic units as last resort |
normovolemic AND asymptomatic for anemia |
monitor the patient; no transfusion necessary |
If the transient blood loss can be predicted in advance, then consider:
(1) collection of autologous units
(2) hemodilution
(3) blood salvage
(4) repletion of iron, folate and vitamin B12 stores
where:
• Recent recommendations would include administration of erythropoietin.
Purpose: To manage a patient with transient anemia following acute blood loss according to the ACP recommendations.
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory
Objective: clinical diagnosis, including family history for genetics, selection
ICD-10: D62,