Transfusion Requirements in Critically Ill Oncologic Patient

Blood transfusion in critical ill patients has been associated to several complications and worse outcome. Particularly in oncologic patients, red blood cell transfusion has been investigated as a factor of worse outcome and cancer recurrence due impairment of cellular immunity. Although red blood cell transfusion has decreased in worldwide clinical practice, this issue still remains a matter of controversy in oncologic patients. There are no prospective studies comparing outcomes between restrictive or liberal blood transfusion strategy in oncologic critical patients. This study is a prospective and randomized study comparing clinical outcomes between two strategies of transfusion in oncologic critical patients - liberal or restrictive.