Though most cardiac surgical patients normally experience these symptoms clinical judgement will need to be used to determine if the symptoms are excessive given an individual patients physiologic status and day of recovery. A given level of Hb or Hct will not be used as an indication for red cell products. These guidelines apply to all type of red cells, whether they be allogeneic, allogeneic donor-directed or autologous. In these cases, individual clinical judgement must be used to determine the necessity for red cell product use. These are to be interpreted as guidelines only.
Guidelines are no substitute for good clinical judgement.
Prudent strategies for elective red blood cell transfusion. American College of Physicians. Hayes MA, Timmins AC, Yau EHS, Palazzo M, Hinds CJ, Watson D. Elevation of systemic oxygen delivery in the treatment of critically ill patients.