Hemodynamic Effects of Stored Blood Transfusion in Intensive Care Patients

Inclusion Criteria: 1. The patient has a pulmonary artery catheter in place 2. Transfusion of 1 unit of packed red blood cells indicated for standard intensive care therapy 3. The patient has an arterial catheter Exclusion Criteria: 1. Age \< 18 years 2. Clinical prediction that the patient will not survive at least 48 hours 3. Acute bleeding: \> 2 units of packed red blood cells/hour 4. Vasopressor use: noradrenalin \> 0.2 μg/kg/min or any use of adrenalin within 6 hours of inclusion into the study 5. Therapy with inhaled NO, inhaled prostacyclin, or phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors 6. Sepsis