Transfusion Practices in Gastrointestinal Bleeding – a Tertiary Care Single-Centre Analysis

Acute upper or lower Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a clinical emergency in which transfusion can be lifesaving. An individualized and restrictive transfusion strategy is recommended. This study aims to analyze and evaluate GIB transfusion practices during one year in a large tertiary hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. All patients with GIB and transfusion support during 2014 were identified and clinical data collected and statistically treated. There were 1005 GIB transfusion episodes, in a total of 494 patients. Upper GIB was more common. The median haemoglobin concentration that triggered RBC transfusion was 7,6 g/dL with a median of 2 RBC per episode. In 21,9% of episodes, RBC were used in combination with other therapies, in 70,8%, only RBC were administered and in 7,3% RBC were not used at all. In the subgroup of patients receiving FC and/or PCC there were higher median of blood products transfused: RBC (3 17 units), FFP (3 units), PC (1 unit). In a large percentage of the transfusion episodes for GIB, only RBC were used whereas only 7,3% of the GIB didn't require RBC transfusion. Patients requiring FC and/or PCC, needed more allogenic components. We observed, in accordance with the latest clinical practice guidelines and the published literature, a restrictive transfusion approach in our clinical practice.