Transfusion of allogeneic blood products during and after cardiac operations is common.
When the degree of anemia and the consequent decrease in oxygen delivery lead to organ …

BACKGROUND: A minority of patients having cardiac procedures (15% to 20%) consume
more than 80% of the blood products transfused at operation. Blood must be viewed as a …

Despite increasing evidence suggesting harmful effects of blood transfusions, physician
practices are slow to change. A systematic approach is required to successfully minimize the …

Although red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are frequently used in cardiac operations, an
increasing amount of data has demonstrated deleterious consequences. Consequently, the …

There is still no alternative that is as effective or as well tolerated as blood; nevertheless, the
search for ways to conserve, and even eliminate blood transfusion, continues. Based on …

The prevalence of anemia is high in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. There is enough
evidence that the presence of anemia increases perioperative mortality and morbidity both …

BACKGROUND: Previous studies defining perioperative risk factors for allogeneic
transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery were limited to highly selected cardiac surgery …

Background Perioperative red blood cell transfusion is associated with adverse outcomes
after cardiac operations. Although restrictive transfusion protocols have been developed …

Guidelines for transfusion practice have had limited impact in altering physician transfusion
behavior in patients undergoing cardiac operations. This may be due to a lack of consensus …

In a recent issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, Likosky et al. 1 reported the results of a survey
designed to assess the penetration and effect on clinical practice of the 2007 Society of …