What is in Your Transfusion? A Bedside Guide to Blood Products and Their Preparation

( Anesthesiology. 2024; 140:144–156. I doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000004655) A comprehensive understanding of blood products and their modifications is crucial for physicians to make informed transfusion decisions. Blood separation into products optimizes every donation, extending the utility and lifespan of each component, addressing specific hematologic needs, and benefiting multiple patients from a single donation. Modifications to these products aim to prevent clotting, extend shelf life, enhance efficacy, and minimize adverse events, all designed with patient benefit in mind. However, these modifications have consequences that anesthesiologists must consider. For example, the development of Massive Transfusion Protocols and balanced “1:1:1” transfusions emerged as a response to the inadvertent harms caused by separating whole blood into components like red cells, plasma, and platelets. Due to the limited blood supply and various clinical demands, it is crucial to understand the specific components being transfused.