Guidelines for red blood cell and plasma transfusion for adults and children Expert Working Group* CMAJ 1997;156(11 suppl):S1 This article has been peer reviewed. © 1997 Canadian Medical Association (text and abstract) Reprint requests to: Guylaine Gatien, Administrative Assistant, Professional Affairs Directorate, Canadian Medical Association, 1867 Alta Vista Dr., Ottawa ON K1G 3Y6; fax 613 731-7314; gatieg@cma.ca See also: Background papers Letter: The risk is in the transfusion, not the donation Contents Abstract Why do we need Canadian guidelines for red blood cell and plasma transfusion? Informed consent and information disclosure Transfusion threshold Volumes of plasma to be administered Information about infectious risks of transfusion Methods Issues related to informed consent Allogeneic red blood cell transfusion Autologous blood transfusion Plasma transfusion The risks of blood transfusion Addendum References *Members of the Expert Working Group are: Edward Crosby, MD, FRCPC (chair), Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa, Ont.; David Ferguson, MD, FRCPC, Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminister, BC; Heather Ann Hume, MD, FRCPC, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Qué.; Jonathan B. Kronick, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Children's Hospital of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ont.; Bryce Larke, MD, CM, DclSc, Canadian Red Cross Society Blood Transfusion Service, Edmonton, Alta.; Pierre LeBlond, MD, CSPQ, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Québec, Que.; Barry McLellan, MD, FRCPC, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, Ont.; Theodore E. Warkentin, MD, FRCPC, FACP, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Hamilton General Campus, Hamilton, Ont. Consultants included: Tina Beranbaum, PhD, Beranbaum & Associates, Ottawa, Ont.; Lisa Calder, BScH, Ottawa, Ont.; Tony Giulivi, MD, FRCPC, Associate National Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs, National Office of the Canadian Red Cross Society, Ottawa, Ont; Brian Grainger, MA, Grainger and Associates, Ottawa, Ont.; Paul Hébert, MD, FRCPC, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa, Ont.; Ellen Margolese, LLB, Ottawa, Ont.; Colette Rivet, MLT, ART, CLS, CHE, Director of Scientific Resources, Canadian Blood Agency, Ottawa, Ont. This project would not have been possible without the thoughtful contributions of the members of the Advisory Panel and the input of the many physicians involved in the 9 focus groups convened across Canada. In addition, we thank the CMA staff, particularly Dr. Anne Carter, Eric Partington and Patricia Chung, the project coordinators. Next: Abstract | CMAJ June 1, 1997 (vol 156, no 11) / JAMC le 1er juin 1997 (vol 156, no 11) | | CPG Infobase / Infobanque des GPC |