Blood transfusions are daily practice in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. Due to new surgical techniques and a better understanding of anaemia-associated pathophysiology, the indications for transfusion are becoming more and more strict. This is even more important as in the past few years increasing evidence shows that blood transfusions have a significant impact on hospital mortality and the patient's outcome. This article is intended to provide an overview of the literature in recent years dealing with this problem.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.