In this multicenter , parallel-group trial , we randomly assigned patients in the intensive care unit ( ICU ) who had septic shock and a hemoglobin concentration of 9 g per deciliter or less to receive 1 unit of leukoreduced red cells when the hemoglobin level was 7 g per deciliter or less ( lower threshold ) or when the level was 9 g per deciliter or less ( higher threshold ) during the ICU stay .