Adv Clin Exp Med
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Iatrogenic anemia caused by diagnostic blood sampling is a common problem in the intensive care unit, where continuous monitoring of blood parameters is very often required. Cumulative blood loss associated with phlebotomy along with other factors render this group of patients particularly susceptible to anemia. ⋯ Iatrogenic blood loss has also gained particular attention in neonatal care, where cumulative blood loss due to samples taken during the first week of life could easily equal or exceed circulating blood volume. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the causes of iatrogenic anemia and discusses the most common preventive measures taken to reduce diagnostic blood loss and the requirement for blood component transfusions in the aforementioned clinical situations.
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Inadequate pain monitoring and management in hospitalized patients poses a serious clinical problem which has been extensively covered in literature for over 25 years. ⋯ The barriers most frequently impeding pain therapy in elderly patients are associated with the healthcare system, and they were more frequently present on the anesthesiology and intensive care ward and in the emergency department, and occurred the least frequently on the surgical ward. Patient-related problems were more frequent on the anesthesiology and intensive care wards than in the emergency department. Doctor-related problems most frequently occurred on the gynecological ward, while nurse-related problems were more frequent on the anesthesiology and intensive care ward.