Transfusion
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The prevailing clinical opinion is that patients undergoing repeat coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation require more blood transfusions than do patients undergoing primary CABG operation. To determine the extent of this increased demand and the variables responsible for it, the cases of 196 patients who had undergone primary procedures and 65 patients who had had repeat procedures at the same institution were reviewed. ⋯ Repeat CABG patients have higher transfusion rates. These findings may be attributed to the increased microvascular bleeding, prolonged time on cardiopulmonary bypass, lower preoperative Hb, and the use of preoperative antiplatelet medications.
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Studies were conducted to measure the state of the United States' national blood resource in 1992 and changes therein from 1989. ⋯ While the US blood supply was adequate for transfusion needs in 1992, blood collections and red cell transfusions had decreased substantially since 1989.