The Society for the Advancement of Blood Management has released a list of five practices clinicians should question as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign. Here are the recommendations:
- Delay elective surgery in patients who have correctable anemia until the anemia has been treated.
- To avoid iatrogenic anemia, don’t order blood tests unless they are clinically indicated.
- Avoid plasma transfusion if there is neither active bleeding nor laboratory evidence of coagulopathy.
- To manage surgical bleeding, use antifibrinolytic drugs (e.g., tranexamic acid) rather than blood transfusion when possible.
In non-emergent settings, avoid transfusion when other treatments are available. Discuss alternative strategies during the informed consent process.
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