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Are Your Patients at Risk for Blood Transfusions?

Preoperative anemia has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality after surgery, often in relation to transfusion-mediated complications. Consider the following recommendations to manage anemia preoperatively, before the need to transfuse arises:

  • Determine hemoglobin level ≥30 days prior to elective surgery to allow time for administration of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and erythropoietin-stimulating agents
  • Postpone elective surgery when confronted with unexplained anemia to allow time for an appropriate diagnosis to be made. Unexplained anemia is always secondary to some other process, and it is in the patient’s best interest to delay surgery to identify and correct or manage the underlying etiologic factor or factors


By following these recommendations, perhaps you can help direct your patients away from the need for unnecessary transfusions and guide them toward optimal outcomes.






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