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Blood transfusion facilitating difficult weaning from the ventilator
Author(s) -
Schönhofer B.,
Böhrer H.,
Köhler D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1998.00275.x
Subject(s) - medicine , weaning , blood transfusion , intensive care medicine , ventilator weaning , anesthesia , emergency medicine
We report a case series of five anaemic patients (haemoglobin: 8.7 ± 0.8 gdl −1 ) with chronic obstructive lung disease in whom trials of weaning from the ventilator were unsuccessful. After transfer to our regional weaning centre, blood was transfused to increase the haemoglobin value to 12 gdl −1 or higher. Subsequently, all patients were weaned successfully. We conclude from our experience that in anaemic patients with chronic obstructive lung disease there should not be a fixed transfusion threshold. In anaemic patients in whom difficulty in weaning from the ventilator is experienced, blood transfusion should be tailored to the individual patient's needs. Transfusion in those with chronic obstructive airways disease may lead to successful weaning.