Association of RBC Transfusion Thresholds and Outcomes in Medical Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure Supported With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

The hemoglobin value to trigger red blood cell (RBC) transfusion for patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is controversial. Previous guidelines recommended transfusing to a normal hemoglobin, but recent studies suggest more RBC transfusions are associated with increased adverse outcomes.