Patient Blood Management and Clinical Use of Blood

Unnecessary transfusions and unsafe transfusion practices expose patients to the risk of serious adverse transfusion reactions and transfusion-transmissible infections. Unnecessary transfusions also reduce the availability of blood products for patients who are in need. WHO recommends for the safe and rational use of blood to reduce unnecessary and unsafe transfusions and to improve patient outcomes and safety, thus minimizing the risk of adverse events including errors, transfusion reactions and transmission of infections.

Patient blood management is essential to optimize patient outcomes and patient safety by ensuring appropriate transfusion. Patient blood management should be routinely practiced by clinicians and other relevant health care providers. This includes diagnosis and correction of iron deficiency and anaemia; consideration of alternatives for transfusion; use of adjuvant drugs and devices to reduce or avoid the need for blood; appropriate clinical use of blood: and effective management of patients in need of a blood transfusion.