Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2017 Sep;26(3):135-142.
doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1604417. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

The Effect of Blood Transfusion on Outcomes in Aortic Surgery

Camilo A Velasquez  1 , Mrinal Singh  1 , Syed Usman Bin Mahmood  1 , Adam J Brownstein  1 , Mohammad A Zafar  1 , Ayman Saeyeldin  1 , Bulat A Ziganshin  1   2 , John A Elefteriades  1
Affiliations
Review

The Effect of Blood Transfusion on Outcomes in Aortic Surgery

Camilo A Velasquez et al. Int J Angiol. 2017 Sep.

Abstract

The use of blood transfusion in cardiac surgery varies widely. The beneficial effects of blood products are offset by an increase in morbidity and mortality. Despite multiple studies showing an association between blood product exposure and adverse short- and long-term events, it is difficult to determine causality. Nevertheless, the implication is sufficient to warrant the search for alternative strategies to reduce the use of blood products while providing a standard of care that optimizes postoperative outcomes. Aortic surgery, in particular, is associated with an increased risk of bleeding requiring a blood transfusion. There is a paucity of evidence within aortic surgery regarding the deleterious effects of blood products. Here, we review the current evidence regarding patient outcomes after blood transfusion in cardiac surgery, with special emphasis on aortic surgery.

Keywords: blood transfusion; cardiac surgical procedures; dissection; morbidity; mortality; thoracic aorta; thoracic aortic aneurysm; thoracic surgery.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None.

References

    1. Goodnough L T. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015. Transfusion medicine; pp. 1191–1198.
    1. Ferraris V A, Ferraris S P, Saha S Pet al.Perioperative blood transfusion and blood conservation in cardiac surgery: the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists clinical practice guideline Ann Thorac Surg 200783(5, Suppl):S27–S86. - PubMed
    1. McQuilten Z K, Andrianopoulos N, Wood E M et al.Transfusion practice varies widely in cardiac surgery: Results from a national registry. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014;147(05):1684–16900. - PubMed
    1. Yaffee D W, DeAnda A, Ngai J Y et al.Blood conservation strategies can be applied safely to high-risk complex aortic surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2015;29(03):703–709. - PubMed
    1. Smith D, Grossi E A, Balsam L B et al.The Impact of a Blood Conservation Program in Complex Aortic Surgery. Aorta (Stamford) 2013;1(04):219–226. - PMC - PubMed