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Fig. 2 | Trials

Fig. 2

From: Liberal transfusion strategy to prevent mortality and anaemia-associated, ischaemic events in elderly non-cardiac surgical patients – the study design of the LIBERAL-Trial

Fig. 2

Study intervention. Hb levels will be determined from blood samples (*) mainly as part of the patient’s usual care at any time during or after surgery (up to 30 days after surgery; at least every 3 days), and after each transfused unit. Consenting patients will be registered (Step I) and will be randomised as soon as Hb falls ≤9 g/dl during surgery (=day 0) or day 1, 2, or 3 after surgery. Physicians will be instructed to transfuse RBC units each time Hb is lower the defined threshold and as soon as possible. The target post-transfusion Hb level needs to be reached within 24 h upon receipt of lab result at latest. The intervention per patient will be followed until hospital discharge or up to 30 days, whichever occurred first, comparable to recent large trials [5,6,7, 15]. In case of any massive or life-threatening bleeding, the single-unit policy should be paused

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Trials

ISSN: 1745-6215