Early red blood cell transfusion strategy in septic shock among patients with cancer: the TRANSPORT randomized controlled trial.
Intensive Care MedAug 19, 2026 (epub)
Frédéric Pène, Clara Vigneron, Antoine Lafarge et al.
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In 30 seconds
The TRANSPORT trial investigated red blood cell transfusion strategies in 187 cancer patients with septic shock. Patients were assigned to either a liberal or restrictive transfusion strategy. The study found no significant difference in 12-hour lactate reduction between groups (52% vs 50%; P = 0.82), and no superiority of the liberal strategy was demonstrated.
Key findings
- 12-hour lactate reduction was 52% in the liberal group and 50% in the restrictive group (P = 0.82).
- Arterial or venous thrombotic events occurred more frequently in the liberal group (13% vs. 1%; P = 0.001).
- 28-day mortality rates were 46% in the liberal group and 53% in the restrictive group (P = 0.34).
Why it matters
The findings suggest that neither liberal nor restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies provide a clear advantage in managing septic shock in cancer patients, highlighting the need for careful consideration of transfusion practices in this vulnerable population.