Anemia is common in patients with aSAH (50% incidence) and is associated with reduction in cerebral oxygenation and poor outcome.
Hemoglobin of 10-11 g% is ideal in these patients.
However, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion has been shown to increase medical complications including infection by 3-fold. Hence, any benefit from correction of anemia with RBC transfusion has to weighed against its possible adverse complications.