• Parvis Kashefi, Amin Rahmani, and Maryam Khalifesoltani.
• Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
• J Res Med Sci. 2018 Jan 1; 23: 85.

BackgroundBlood transfusion is essential in severely ill patients whose hemoglobin (Hb) levels are low, but there are some factors that inhibit optimal increase in Hb. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of increase in Hb levels after packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients and its related factors.Materials And MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 124 patients admitted to the ICU, and needed PRBC transfusion. Demographic information, Hb on the 1st day of admission, blood volume transfusions during the 7 days, and the 7th day of admission Hb level were extracted from patients' records.ResultsThe average initial Hb level of patients was reported as 6.17 ± 1.43 g/dl, and after administrating PRBC (4.23 ± 1.87 units during 7 days), the Hb level was 8.09 ± 1.66 g/dl after 7 days (mean difference was 1.91 ± 1.93, t = 11.06, P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between change in Hb level in the terms of age, gender, underlying illness, body mass index, hospitalization history, fever, and duration of hospitalization (P > 0.05). However, the mean increased Hb level in hospitalized patients with internal disorders was the lowest (0.25 g/dl, P = 0.002).ConclusionThe results of our study showed that the increased Hb level based on one unit of received PRBC was low, especially in patients with internal. Therefore, based on high frequency of anemia in ICU patients and relative complications, physicians should pay attention to factors affecting Hb levels after PRBC transfusion such as medical history.

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