Selected Indications and Ratings*
| Indication | Context | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical | Cost constraint | Cost and blood supply constraint | |
| Erythropoietin alone | |||
| Hgb 131–150 g/L, no/mild patient anxiety and | |||
| 1–2 units expected PRBC loss | Inappropriate | Inappropriate | Inappropriate |
| ≥ 3 units expected PRBC loss | Uncertain | Uncertain | Uncertain |
| Hgb 101–130 g/L and anemia of chronic disease, 1–2 units expected PRBC loss, and | |||
| No/mild patient anxiety | Uncertain | Inappropriate | Uncertain |
| Moderate/severe patient anxiety | Appropriate | Inappropriate | Uncertain |
| Erythropoietin with preoperative autologous donation (PAD) | |||
| Hgb 131–150 g/L, no/mild patient anxiety, and | |||
| 1–2 units expected use of PAD | Inappropriate | Inappropriate | Inappropriate |
| 3–4 units expected use of PAD | Uncertain | Uncertain | Uncertain |
| Hgb 110–130 g/L and anemia of chronic disease, no/mild patient anxiety, and | |||
| 1–2 units expected use of PAD | Appropriate | Uncertain | Appropriate |
| 3–4 units expected use of PAD | Appropriate | Appropriate | Appropriate |
PRBC = packed red blood cell
↵* In all scenarios: patients were aged 18 to 70 yr, there was no history of transfusions or antibody incompatibility, and there was no significant cardiopulmonary or cardiovascular disease.
Appropriate = median of 9 panelists ratings was 7–9 without disagreement, inappropriate = median of 9 panelists ratings was 1–3 without disagreement, uncertain = median of 9 panelists ratings was 5–7 or disagreement occurred (see text)