Management and clinical outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal bleeding who decline transfusion.

Gastrointestinal bleed patients can be successfully managed with optimal bloodless medicine techniques. Even patients with a nadir Hb <5-6 g/dL can be stabilized with aggressive anemia treatment and may safely undergo anesthesia and endoscopy or surgery for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Methods used for treating bloodless medicine patients may be used to improve clinical care for all patients.