Age of transfused blood in critically ill adults

Age of transfused blood in critically ill adults. NEJM, March 2015

Lacroix, J., et al.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1500704#t=article

Blood transfusions are administered frequently and may have unintended consequences in critically ill patients. Current regulations permit the storage of red cells for up to 42 days, but prolonged storage has been associated with changes that may render red cells ineffective as oxygen carriers and that lead to the accumulation of substances that have untoward biologic effects.