Restrictive Red Blood Cell Transfusion Is Safe for Most Patients — Except in Neurocritical Care (and Some Bleeding Syndromes)
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Restrictive Red Blood Cell Transfusion Is Safe for Most Patients — Except in Neurocritical Care (and Some Bleeding Syndromes)

A Cochrane update (2025) of 69 randomized trials found restrictive RBC transfusion thresholds (typically Hb 7–8 g/dL) cut transfusion exposure ~42% without increasing 30‑day mortality overall, but liberal strategies improved long‑term neurological outcomes after brain injury and restrictive thresholds reduced mortality in GI bleeding.