Can a higher transfusion threshold save lives in the operating room?
NCT ID NCT07748663
First seen Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial asks whether giving blood transfusions to keep hemoglobin levels higher (90-100 g/L) during and right after major surgery reduces serious complications or death within 30 days, compared to a lower threshold (70-80 g/L). About 5,000 adults at risk of needing a transfusion will be randomly assigned to one of the two strategies. Participants will also report their recovery and quality of life at 30 and 90 days after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Red blood cell transfusion
- What this could lead to
- If a higher transfusion threshold proves better, it could guide safer blood use during major surgery, potentially reducing complications and deaths.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is large but results may not apply to all surgeries or patients. Transfusions carry risks like reactions or infections, and the higher threshold might lead to more transfusions without clear benefit.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
-
The Ottawa Hospital
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada