Summary of recommendations on alternatives to reduce allogeneic blood transfusion (in descending order of strength)
Grade 1A recommendations
We recommend:
- The use of restrictive transfusion strategies in non-bleeding, euvolaemic anaemic patients.
- Perioperative administration of tranexamic acid to patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
- The administration of intravenous iron to cancer patients, as an adjuvant to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, for correcting chemotherapy-induced anaemia.
- Preoperative administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to anaemic, orthopaedic surgical patients expected to have moderate blood losses.
We do not recommend:
- The administration of desmopressin to patients undergoing elective surgery.
- The administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to critically ill patients who do not have a previous indication for this therapy. (...)