The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Liberal versus restrictive blood transfusion strategy: 3-year survival and cause of death results from the FOCUS randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2015; 385: 1183–1189.

Published: 23rd June 2015

Authors: Carson JL, Sieber F, Cook DR, Hoover DR, Noveck H, Chaitman BR et al. et al.

Conclusion

Patients over 50 with vascular risk factors and an Hb level <10g/dL within three days of surgery for hip fracture were included. Restricting transfusion to Hb < 8g/dL (or symptoms) in the 2016 patients randomized had no effect on the mortality rate after a median 3.1 years: 42 per cent.

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