Archivos de cardiología de México
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Bleeding occur frequently in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Although unexpected bleeding after this surgery is common, reducing this bleeding is a desirable clinical goal, because such bleeding is associated with adverse outcomes. Bleeding during and after cardiac operations and the hemodilution effects of cardiopulmonary bypass commonly result in blood transfusions. ⋯ If transfusions were completely safe, differing thresholds would not matter. However, the adverse reactions associated with transfusions are: febrile reactions, hemolytic and infectious complications may occur. Most recently, blood transfusions have been linked to postoperative wound infections, pneumonia, renal dysfunction, severe sepsis, hospital mortality and increased 5-year mortality.