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Table 2 Description of red blood cells transfusion strategies or hemoglobin levels compared in included studies

From: Hemoglobin levels and transfusions in neurocritically ill patients: a systematic review of comparative studies

   

Severity of the disease

  

Exposure

    

Study

Groups

Age (years)a

GCSa

P value

ISSa

P value

Mean baseline Hb (g/dl)

P value

Mandatory RBCT protocol

RBCT strategy

Patients transfused (%)

Hb achieved (g/dl)a

P value

McIntyre et al.

(2006)

Liberal

(n = 38)

39.8 ± 18.1

7.5 ± 3.6

NR

31.3 ± 13.0

NR

NR

 

Yes

Threshold 10 g/dl

Target range 10-12 g/dl

38 (100)

10.5 ± 0.6

< 0.0001

 

Restrictive

(n = 29)

41.7 ± 20.4

7.3 ± 3.4

 

29.8 ± 14.0

    

Threshold 7 g/dl

Target range 7-9 g/dl

17 (59)

8.5 ± 0.7

 

Flückiger et al.

(2006)

Higher Hb

(n = 102)

NR

NR

 

28.65

NR

12.4

NR

No

Hb ≥9.3 g/dl by the end of OR phase

31 (30)

11.1

NR

 

Lower Hb

(n = 37)

   

32.70

 

10.4

  

Hb < 9.3 g/dl by the end of OR phase

32 (86)

8.4

 

Lacroix et al.

(2007)

Liberal

(n = 36)

5.5 ± 5.1

NR

 

NR

 

8.2 ± 0.9

NR

Yes

Threshold 9.5 g/dl

Target range 11-12 g/dl

35 (97)

10.6 ± 1.0

< 0.0001

 

Restrictive

(n = 30)

5.2 ± 4.7

    

7.7 ± 1.0

  

Threshold 7 g/dl

Target range 8.5-9.5 g/dl

20 (67)

8.9 ± 1.0

 

George et al.

(2008)

Higher Hb

(n = 43)

54.6 ± 23.9

4.2 ± 1.7

0.013

25.0 ± 3.3

0.12

NR

 

No

Received at least 1 RBCT when Hb was between 8 and 10 g/dl

43 (100)

NR

 
 

Lower Hb

(n = 39)

52.6 ± 19.5

5.5 ± 2.4

 

23.5 ± 4.5

    

Did not receive RBCT when Hb was between 8 and 10 g/dl

0 (0)

  

Warner et al.

(2010)

Higher Hb

(n = 76)

39.8 ± 19.3

7.1 ± 5.0

0.007

29.8 ± 10.7

0.085

30.0 ± 3.9

0.663

No

Received at least 1 RBCT when Hb was between 7 and 10 g/dl

76 (100)

NR

 
 

Lower Hb

(n = 63)

40.9 ± 20.6

9.7 ± 5.1

 

26.5 ± 9.1

 

29.8 ± 6.8

  

Did not receive RBCT when Hb was between 7 and 10 g/dl

0 (0)

  

Naidech et al.

(2010)

Higher Hb

(n = 21)

54.1 ± 14.9

NR

 

NR

 

13.4

NR

Yes

Threshold 11.5 g/dl

20 (95)

12.3 ± 0.3

< 0.0001

 

Lower Hb

(n = 23)

59.2 ± 11.9

    

13.1

  

Threshold 10 g/dl

19 (82)

11.1 ± 0.4

 
  1. GCS Glasgow Coma Scale; Hb hemoglobin concentration; ISS injury severity score; NR not reported; OR operating room; RBCT red blood cell transfusion. aMean ± standard deviation.