BLOOD SAMPLING AND ANAEMIA

Frequent Blood sampling and Anaemia in Critical Ill Patients

[Name of the Institute]

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Background of the Study3

Causes of Anaemia in Patients in Intensive Care4

Study Purpose5

Study Objective5

Research Questions5

Significance of the study5

Literature Review6

Clinical Indication for Blood Transfusion7

Prevalence of Blood Transfusion in ICU10

Physiology of Anaemia and Blood Transfusion12

Nurse's Judgement in Collecting Samples12

Tolerance of Blood Transfusion in the Disease13

Transfusion Threshold14

Blood Conservation as a Part of Blood Management15

Methodology16

Design17

Sampling18

Data collection18

Data Analysis19

Reliability and Validity20

Ethical Considerations20

Limitations21

Conclusion22

References23

Abstract

Blood transfusions have undergoing much debate in the previous research studies. There has been a debate about the nurses' skills in relation to haematology, keeping in view this trend, this study aims to identify whether the frequent blood samples lead to anaemia among the critically ill patients. The study will use the observational study by examining the blood transfusion of the eight bed ICU patients. The changes in their health condition and the haemoglobin count will be studied to analyse the impact of blood transfusion on their health. This study will provide an understanding of the improvement in clinical practice and the guidelines to the nurses in the haematological practices.

Frequent Blood sampling and Anaemia in Critical Ill Patients

Introduction

A growing appreciation exists for the accelerating risks involved in transfusing blood, the costs associated with transfusion, as well as refusal of some patients to accept blood transfusion (Bernardino et al, 2011). These concerns have recently gained much popularity and given rise to formal blood conservation and management programs and strategies to minimize blood transfusions, thus avoiding the risk of anaemia. Current knowledge as well as the increasing desire of medical professionals to comply with ethical principles has encouraged researchers and clinicians to develop standards of care that aim to avoid unnecessary transfusions or allow transfusion-free medical and surgical care (Thomson, 2009, 32).

These developments minimize transfusion for the benefit of all patients and the options range from simple practice changes to complex technology. Modern transfusion medicine resulted from the necessity to treat severely bleeding patients when relatively few resuscitation options were available (Thomson, Farmer, Hofmann, Isbister, & Shander, 2009). Because it was initially successful, transfusion was considered to be indispensable in modern therapies such as high dose chemotherapy, transplantation and complex surgeries. Keeping in view these concepts, the study aims to understand if frequent blood samples cause anaemia among critically ill patients (Thomson, 2009, 16).

Background of the Study

The decision to transfuse a patient can be very difficult. In intensive care, the blood is supplied in three different circumstances including patients with shock hypovolemic by haemorrhage, in patients with bleeding disorders, and in patients with anaemia. Anaemia is one of the most common laboratory findings found in patients in intensive care, and many of these patients receive blood transfusions during their stay. Current research demonstrates that patients can tolerate much lower levels of anaemia and that indication of transfusion should be based upon the overall clinical picture of the patient and that the trigger should be evidence of inadequate tissue perfusion (Spahn, 2008, 89).

Causes of Anaemia in Patients in Intensive Care

Anaemia is cause by ...