Importance of blood transfusion in anemic patients with COPD and unsuccessful weaning from respirator

Background: Imbalance of load-capacity relationship in severe COPD may lead to ventilatory failure. Additionally, in such patients, anemia may aggrava te the ventilatory load. In this retrospective study we investigated whethe r anemic patients undergoing long-term ventilation benefit from transfusion . Case Reports: We studied 5 anemic patients (hemaglobin: 8.7 +/- 0.8 g/dl) w ith COPD in whom trials of weaning from the ventilator had been unsuccessfu l. After transferal to our regional weaning centre, blood was transfused to increase: the hemoglobin value to approximately 12 g/dl or higher. Subsequ ently, all patients could be successfully weaned within a short period. Conclusion: We conclude that in difficult to wean anemic patients blood tra nsfusion should be considered and may lead to successful weaning.