Erythrocyte concentrates are transfused to correct the symptoms and signs of a lack of oxygen in tissues that are found in anaemia produced by different causes. There are various causes of anaemia and they depend on the particular factors involved in the lack of oxygen in tissues. Amongst these factors, the following stand out: haemoglobin concentration and its ability to carry oxygen, the effort that the body is capable of making and the flow of blood and oxygen to each organ.
When the concentration of haemoglobin reduces, the body starts (sometimes quickly, sometimes not so quickly) its compensation mechanisms to adapt to the new situation in which the body finds itself in order to maintain tissue oxygenation. However, the body’s compensation mechanisms are not always the same, in that other factors come into play such as how quickly anaemia starts to set in, the condition of the heart and the respiratory system, the amount of blood and the patient’s metabolic state.
Despite the fact that haemoglobin concentration is one of the most frequently used indicators for evaluating erythrocyte transfusion, there is no universal threshold, given that other factors also need to be evaluated, such as compensation mechanisms and underlying illnesses.
Thus, we can say that the decision to carry out a transfusion must always be made on a case-by-case basis taking all the abovementioned factors into account.
• What should the dosage be?
The correct erythrocyte concentrate dosage for a particular patient is that which corrects the symptoms caused by a reduction in the right amount of oxygen in the tissues of the body.
An erythrocyte concentrate is the quantity of red blood cells obtained from a donation of blood after separating out the other blood components. Administering erythrocyte concentrate (EC) to an adult increases their haemoglobin by 1-1.5 g/100ml and haematocrit by 2-3%.
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