Spanish consensus statement on alternatives to allogeneic transfusions: the ‘Seville document’

Abstract

The Consensus Document on Alternatives to Allogeneic Blood Transfusion (AABT) has been drawn up by a panel of experts from five scientific societies. The Spanish societies of anesthesiology (SEDAR), critical care medicine and coronary units (SEMICYUC), hematology and hemotherapy (AEHH), blood transfusion (SETS), and thrombosis and hemostasis (SETH) have sponsored and participated in this consensus document. Alternatives to blood transfusion have been divided into pharmacological and nonpharmacological, with four modules and 12 topics. The main objective variable was the reduction of allogeneic blood transfusions and/or the number of transfused patients. The extent to which this objective was achieved by each AABT was evaluated using the Delphi methodology, which classifies the grades of recommendation from ‘A’ (supported by controlled studies) to ‘E’ (noncontrolled studies and expert opinion). The experts concluded that most of the indications for AABT only attained middle or low grades of recommendation, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘E’, thus indicating the need for further controlled studies.