Making the right clinical decisions in component therapy

Abstract

Rational clinical decision‐making is essential to guide appropriate transfusion practice. The use of evidence‐based guidelines needs a focused effort on various activities to promote implementation including training of all healthcare personnel involved, clinical audit and meaningful patient involvement. At present, there continues to be considerable inappropriate use of blood and components with variation in practice and targeted strategies are needed to improve practice supported by the use of information technology where available. There is a collective need to implement the principles of Patient Blood Management with an evidence‐based multidisciplinary approach to optimizing the care of all patients who might need transfusion with the timely use of alternatives wherever available.