Commentary Highlights Anesthesiologists’ Role in Conserving O-Negative Blood

A recent commentary in Anesthesiology Open highlights anesthesiologists’ role in improving stewardship of O-negative red blood cells and outlines steps to preserve supply for patients.

The authors noted that anesthesia clinicians are responsible for an estimated 40% to 60% of transfusions in the United States, positioning them as both prescribers and administrators of blood products. As a result, their intraoperative decision-making has a direct impact on O-negative RBC utilization.

To reduce inappropriate use, the authors emphasized early collection and rapid processing of type and screen samples to enable faster transition to type-specific units, including in emergent settings. The commentary also highlighted patient blood management practices, including AABB-recommended restrictive transfusion strategies, point-of-care coagulation testing and blood conservation approaches in high-risk bleeding scenarios.

In addition, the authors called for coordination across perioperative, emergency, critical care and transfusion medicine teams to operationalize the American Red Cross-led “Start Smart and Switch Sooner” initiative to reduce reliance on O-negative units.

Additional PBM resources are available on the AABB website.