Sanne de Bruin

31 Transfusion practice in the non-bleeding critically ill; an international online survey – The TRACE Survey Figure 1. Respondents were asked which Hb threshold they used for RCC transfusion in the general ICU population and different subpopulations. Respondents used in the general population a Hb threshold of 7.0 g/dL (7.0-7.5). This is significantly lower (p<0.001) compared to patients with acute coronary syndrome (9.0 g/dL (8-9.7)), septic shock (7.5 g/dL (7.0-8.0)), acute brain injury (8.0 g/dL (7.0-9.0)), patients undergoing ECMO (8.0 (7.0-9.0) g/dL), issues of prolonged weaning (7.5 g/dL (7.0-8.0)), or patients with ARDS (7.5 g/dL (7.0-8.0)). No statistical differences were observed between the general ICU population and patients older than 65 years, patients with (haematological) oncology (all three groups were transfused at a Hb threshold of 7.0 g/dL (7.0-7.5)). Transfusion triggers The majority of the respondents used clinical markers such as hypotension and tachy- cardia alongwith Hb levels to guide transfusion. Among the respondents only 13%never uses other physiological triggers in addition to a Hb threshold. Of interest, 27% of the respondents would always use other physiological triggers (figure 2A). Tachycardia (66%), hypotension (55%) and lactate levels >2 mmol/L (51%) were men- tioned most often (figure 2B), while significant ECG changes were ranked as most im- portant physiological trigger. Prevention of RCC transfusion Use of iron or iron in combination with erythropoietin (EPO) to improve erythropoiesis and prevent RCC transfusion was reported by for 41% and 17% of respondents, respec- tively. EPO was reported by 12% of the respondents as a monotherapy. A quarter of the respondents would never use these pharmacological agents for this purpose. Non-phar- macological blood conservation measures were less common in the ICU. Closed loop 2