Cardiac Surgery and Blood-Saving Techniques: An Update

Muhammad Saad Yousuf1, Khalid Samad2,3, Syed Shabbir Ahmed1

  • 1Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, PAK.

Cureus
|February 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Patient blood management (PBM) strategies can reduce blood loss and transfusions in cardiac surgery. This review covers PBM techniques used before, during, and after surgery to conserve blood products.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Transfusion Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiac surgery carries a high risk of intraoperative blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusions.
  • Factors contributing to blood loss include anticoagulation and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent blood conservation strategies in adult cardiac surgery.
  • To highlight patient blood management (PBM) as a multidisciplinary approach to reduce transfusions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current evidence-based blood conservation strategies.
  • Categorization of strategies into pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases.

Main Results:

  • PBM encompasses multiple strategies to enhance red cell mass.
  • These strategies aim to reduce the need for packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and other blood products.

Conclusions:

  • Implementing PBM strategies is crucial for minimizing transfusion risks in cardiac surgery.
  • A comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach optimizes patient outcomes by conserving blood products.

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