Scope and Purpose
The aim of this guideline is to improve the practice of critical care in SA by providing clear blood management guidelines to be utilised in the care of critically ill patients in SA. The specific objectives of the guideline are: to provide current, evidence-based, context-specific blood management guidelines to be used in the treatment of critically ill patients in SA to improve clinical outcome
The aim of this guideline is to improve the practice of critical care in SA by providing clear blood management guidelines to be utilised in the care of critically ill patients in SA. The specific objectives of the guideline are:
- to provide current, evidence-based, context-specific blood management guidelines to be used in the treatment of critically ill patients in SA
- to improve clinical outcomes of critically ill patients by ensuring they receive blood products according to current, evidence-based guidelines
- to conserve resources in SA critical care by ensuring rational utilisation of blood and blood products.
The guidelines focus on providing practical answers to key patientcentred questions regarding indications for administration of blood, blood products and adjunctive agents; and also regarding coagulation testing, ethics and general principles of PBM.
Critically ill patients are those patients with, or at high risk of developing, acute organ dysfunction. While these patients may be treated in critical care units (high care units, intensive care units), many – if not most – in SA are not. These guidelines are therefore intended for use in all adult critically ill patients, whether or not they are in dedicated critical care units. While the guidelines have been developed from current international best evidence, the recommendations have considered the unique requirements of the SA context and are therefore specifically intended for use in SA. The guidelines are intended for adult patients (i.e. ≥18 years); however, practitioners may choose to apply them in patients deemed physiologically to be adults. These patients may be subject to certain legal and ethical considerations and, as such, these are dealt with specifically in the guidelines.
The guideline is intended for use by any medical professional who may be providing care for critically ill adult patients. The guideline may also be useful to hospital administrators in creating institutional PBM guidelines.
Critical Care Society of Southern Africa Adult Patient Blood Management Guidelines: 2019 - Round-table meeting, CCSSA Congress, Durban, 2018_SAJCC_July 2020, Vol. 36, No. 1