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

Transfusion strategies for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.  N Engl J Med 2013; 368: 11-21.

Published: 30th July 2013

Authors: Villanueva C, Colomo A, Bosch A, Concepcion M, Hernandez-Gea V, Aracil C et al. et al.

Conclusion

Some 921 patients were randomized to one of two blood transfusion triggers: 7g/dL or 9g/dL. Survival after six weeks was higher in the 7g/dL group: 95 versus 91 per cent (hazard ratio 0.55, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.33 to 0.92, P=0.02). Risk of rebleeding was also lower (10 versus 16 per cent, P=0.01), and complications were fewer (40 versus 48 per cent, P=0.02).

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