Patient blood management

"Patient blood management (PBM) is a patient-centred, systematic, evidence-based approach to improve patient outcomes by managing and preserving the patient's own blood, while promoting patient safety and empowerment."

This definition is from the International Anesthesia Research Society article: A Global Definition of Patient Blood Management.

The three pillars of PBM that underpin practice are:

optimising the patient's own blood, such as identifying and optimising anaemia and iron deficiency
minimising blood loss, such as surgical techniques and therapies that reduce blood loss and use of cell salvage, and
optimising the patient's tolerance of anaemia.

Illustration of patient centred blood management

Updated December 2025

Explore this topic further

Transfusion checklist

There are many steps involved in the transfusion process. A transfusion checklist can help ensure a safe and appropriate transfusion occurs every time.

Minimise the need for a transfusion

When used appropriately, blood components can save lives and provide benefit to patients. The decision whether to transfuse should consider the full range of available therapies.

Blood conservation

A number of strategies exist that may be used to conserve a patient’s own blood, aiming to reduce or eliminate the need for transfusion.

Governance principles

In Australia, governance standards aim to ensure clinical governance frameworks are implemented to ensure patients receive safe care, including for transfusion.