2024 critical review of the patient blood management (PBM) recommendations of the Spanish enhanced recovery after major surgery (via RICA)

Abstract

The Spanish enhanced recovery in adult surgery strategy, the "RICA pathway", was published in 2021 and includes 19 specific recommendations and more than 20 indirect recommendations for patient blood management (PBM). After reviewing these recommendations, and in the context of the new clinical evidence available, we propose the following updates: First: Detection and treatment of any preoperative anemia status in ALL patients who are candidates for major surgery with hematinic deficiencies. Second: Universal use of tranexamic acid in major surgery, bedside monitoring of intraoperative hemoglobin levels, restrictive transfusion criteria, and monitoring of patient well-being in terms of hydration, coagulability, normothermia and analgesia. Third: Restrictive transfusion criteria, single-unit blood transfusion and diagnosis/treatment of postoperative anemia. Real, universal implementation and integration of PBM in the RICA program is urgently needed.

Keywords: Anemia; Bleeding; Enhanced recovery after surgery; Eritropoyetina; Erythropoietin; Gestión de la Sangre del paciente; Hierro; Iron; Patient blood management; RICA; Sangrado; Transfusion; Transfusión.