A restrictive rather than liberal transfusion strategy is recommended. Using lower hemoglobin triggers in the range of 7 to 8 gm of hemoglobin rather than the traditional 10 gms is suitable for most patients. Evidence of ischemia would be a contraindication for this lower transfusion threshold. The focus is the individual patient and not a specific hemoglobin or hematocrit to trigger a transfusion.
