Priority 22 from the Blood Transfusion and Blood Donation PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What is the optimal blood transfusion dose [number of units] [in any situation] for maximum patient benefit? (JLA PSP Priority 22)
Overall ranking	22
JLA question ID	0063/22
Explanatory note	Not available for this PSP
Evidence	NICE Guideline Recommendations: 17. Consider single-unit red blood cell transfusions for adults (or equivalent volumes calculated based on body weight for children or adults with low body weight) who do not have active bleeding. 18. After each single-unit red blood cell transfusion (or equivalent volumes calculated based on body weight for children or adults with low body weight), clinically reassess and check haemoglobin levels, and give further transfusions if needed. 1. Torres ME, Rodriguez JN, Ramos JL, Gomez FA. Transfusion in palliative cancer patients: a review of the literature. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2014;17(1):88-104
Health Research Classification System category	Generic Health Relevance

Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples	Is it better to give a little blood, i.e. 1 unit at a time to top a patient up in the BMT process rather than say a 3 unit transfusion to last a longer time? ~ Why do blood transfusions always include two units and not just one? ~ How much blood can one transfuse in an acute setting?
Submitted by	1 blood recipient ~ 1 blood donor ~ 2 health professionals

PSP information
PSP unique ID	0063
PSP name	Blood Transfusion and Blood Donation
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP	51 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	28 February 2018