Patient Blood Management Guidelines: Module 4 Critical Care

The fourth in a series of six evidence-based guidelines was approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) on 14 December 2012 and released on 5 April 2013.

Under review 

Module 4 Critical Care is under review.  This version was published in April 2013 and is based on the best available evidence published up to July 2010. The original version remains available to guide practice.

Module 4 is intended to assist and guide health-care professionals in making clinical decisions when managing patients requiring critical care.

Module 4 Quick Reference Guide includes a Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP) template that is designed to be adapted to meet local institutions’ patient population and resources.

The Critical Care module and accompanying resources can be accessed by clicking on the relevant links below.

College & Society Endorsements

The National Blood Authority (NBA) greatly appreciates and acknowledges the input received from the clinical community in producing the Patient Blood Management Guidelines. We are pleased to acknowledge that the following organisations have formally endorsed Module 4 - Critical Care:

  • Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
  • Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine
  • Australasian Trauma Society
  • Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
  • Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society
  • Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion
  • Australian College of Nursing
  • Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
  • College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand
  • Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand
  • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
  • Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia

Review and update of the PBM Guidelines

The NBA is currently considering the review and update process across the entire suite of modules rather than each module being updated in an isolated and iterative process. The aim is to transition to a sustainable and updateable methodology that will enable updates as the evidence base and clinical practice evolves. For more information please refer to the Patient Blood Management Guidelines Progress Update webpage.

For more information

To provide feedback and inform future reviews of this module, please send any comments on its content or implementation, or on the accompanying materials, to the project manager at:

  • Email guidelines@blood.gov.au
  • Mail:
    Patient Blood Management Guidelines
    National Blood Authority
    Locked Bag 8430
    Canberra ACT 2601
  • Fax (02) 6151 5300