Patient Blood Management

Blood component transfusions play a critical role in the care of patients who are treated for hematological malignancies, are having surgery, or have suffered acute trauma. Transfusion can be a life-saving intervention, especially in bleeding patients.

Over the last several decades, the University of Rochester has led the way in research about the risks and benefits of blood transfusions. A blood transfusion should be thought of as a liquid organ transplant, and the decision to transfuse should include careful assessment of the potential risks versus the expected benefits. There is strong scientific evidence that overall, patients who avoid transfusions have fewer complications, faster recoveries, and shorter hospital stays.