Safe Application of a Restrictive Transfusion Protocol in Moderate-Risk Patients Undergoing Cardiac Operations (original) (raw)
Related papers
Restrictive or Liberal Red-Cell Transfusion for Cardiac Surgery
BACKGROUND The effect of a restrictive versus liberal red-cell transfusion strategy on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains unclear. METHODS In this multicenter, open-label, noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned 5243 adults undergoing cardiac surgery who had a European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) I of 6 or more (on a scale from 0 to 47, with higher scores indicating a higher risk of death after cardiac surgery) to a restrictive red-cell transfusion threshold (transfuse if hemoglobin level was <7.5 g per deciliter, starting from induction of anesthesia) or a liberal red-cell transfusion threshold (transfuse if hemoglobin level was <9.5 g per deciliter in the operating room or intensive care unit [ICU] or was <8.5 g per deciliter in the non-ICU ward). The primary composite outcome was death from any cause, myocardial infarction, stroke, or newonset renal failure with dialysis by hospital discharge or by day 28, whichever came first. Secondary outcomes included red-cell transfusion and other clinical outcomes. RESULTS The primary outcome occurred in 11.4% of the patients in the restrictive-threshold group, as compared with 12.5% of those in the liberal-threshold group (absolute risk difference, −1.11 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.93 to 0.72; odds ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.07; P<0.001 for noninferiority). Mortality was 3.0% in the restrictive-threshold group and 3.6% in the liberal-threshold group (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.16). Red-cell transfusion occurred in 52.3% of the patients in the restrictive-threshold group, as compared with 72.6% of those in the liberal-threshold group (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.47). There were no significant between-group differences with regard to the other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing cardiac surgery who were at moderate-to-high risk for death, a restrictive strategy regarding red-cell transfusion was noninferior to a liberal strategy with respect to the composite outcome of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, stroke, or new-onset renal failure with dialysis, with less blood transfused. (Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and others; TRICS III ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02042898.)
Effectiveness of a cardiac surgery-specific transfusion protocol
Transfusion, 2014
BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery is often complicated by excessive bleeding that is commonly treated with blood products. In the year 2009 a transfusion protocol was introduced specifically designed for cardiac surgery procedures. This study aims to evaluate the effect of this protocol on transfusion of blood products and the occurrence of clinical events. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a nonrandomized intervention study. The index group was transfused according to a tailor-made transfusion protocol (operation in 2009/2010) and the control group was transfused according to the Dutch national transfusion guideline (operation in 2007/2008). The primary outcome was mean number of units transfused and proportion of patients transfused. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, renal injury or failure, rethoracotomy, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: The control group comprised 2685 patients and the index group 2534 patients. The tailor-made transfusion protocol resulted in a decrease of patients transfused with red blood cells (RBCs) and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) during surgery with odds ratio of 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-0.86) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.46-0.86), respectively. Fewer myocardial infarctions were observed in the index group with OR of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.47-0.96). CONCLUSION: The cardiac surgery-specific transfusion protocol resulted in fewer patients transfused with RBCs and FFP and a lower incidence of myocardial infarction. This tailor-made protocol has led to a more judicious use of blood products and is a basis for further refinement of coagulation management during cardiac surgery procedures. E xcessive bleeding is one of the most common complications in cardiac surgery. While the majority of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery will not receive allogenic blood products, a substantial number of patients consume disproportionately high amounts of blood products. 1 Especially prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times, reoperations, urgent surgeries, and complex cardiac surgical procedures are associated with excessive blood loss and attendant transfusion of blood products. 2,3 Preoperative anemia in cardiac surgery patients increases the rate of adverse clinical events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and death, 4,5 while on the other hand, administration of blood products is also associated with negative outcomes such as early and late mortality, increased risk for infections, prolonged hospital stay, and decrease of long-term quality of life. 6-9 Each unit of red blood cells (RBCs) transfused is associated with incrementally increased risk for adverse outcome. 10-12 Several studies have compared a strict transfusion regimen to a more liberal transfusion regime showing that a strict ABBREVIATIONS: CABG = coronary artery bypass graft; CKMB = myocardial-specific creatine kinase; CPB = cardiopulmonary bypass; CVA = cerebrovascular accident; ICU = intensive care unit; LVEF = left ventricle ejection fraction; TIA = transient ischemic attack.
Six-Month Outcomes after Restrictive or Liberal Transfusion for Cardiac Surgery
The New England journal of medicine, 2018
Background We reported previously that, in patients undergoing cardiac surgery who were at moderate-to-high risk for death, a restrictive transfusion strategy was noninferior to a liberal strategy with respect to the composite outcome of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, stroke, or new-onset renal failure with dialysis by hospital discharge or 28 days after surgery, whichever came first. We now report the clinical outcomes at 6 months after surgery. Methods We randomly assigned 5243 adults undergoing cardiac surgery to a restrictive red-cell transfusion strategy (transfusion if the hemoglobin concentration was <7.5 g per deciliter intraoperatively or postoperatively) or a liberal red-cell transfusion strategy (transfusion if the hemoglobin concentration was <9.5 g per deciliter intraoperatively or postoperatively when the patient was in the intensive care unit [ICU] or was <8.5 g per deciliter when the patient was in the non-ICU ward). The primary composite outco...
Restrictive Transfusion Strategy after Cardiac Surgery
Anesthesiology
Background Recent guidelines on transfusion in cardiac surgery suggest that hemoglobin might not be the only criterion to trigger transfusion. Central venous oxygen saturation (Svo2), which is related to the balance between tissue oxygen delivery and consumption, may help the decision process of transfusion. We designed a randomized study to test whether central Svo2–guided transfusion could reduce transfusion incidence after cardiac surgery. Methods This single center, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted on adult patients after cardiac surgery in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary university hospital. Patients were screened preoperatively and were assigned randomly to two study groups (control or Svo2) if they developed anemia (hemoglobin less than 9 g/dl), without active bleeding, during their ICU stay. Patients were transfused at each anemia episode during their ICU stay except the Svo2 patients who were transfused only if the pretransfusion central...
Blood Transfusion Reduction in Cardiac Surgery: Multidisciplinary Approach at a Community Hospital
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2009
Background. Mounting evidence exists for more restrictive blood transfusion practices in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Few studies, however, have recognized or agree upon a method by which this decrease in allogeneic red blood cell transfusion can be achieved. We will review our methods and experience in a blood conservation initiative from 2003 to 2007. Methods. A data driven, multidisciplinary effort to decrease allogeneic red blood cell transfusion was instituted in a community hospital. Numerous innovations in treatment protocols were implemented and evaluated. Clinical data from 2003 to 2007 will be presented. Yearly review of outcomes led to an evolving clinical practice and lowered transfusion rates. Results. A total of 2,531 consecutive cardiac surgical procedures were performed during a five-year period. Using a multidisciplinary approach to quality improvement, and with the goal of using fewer blood products, our incidence of allogeneic red blood cell transfusion was decreased, from 43% in 2003 to 18% in 2007. Patient outcomes were not significantly changed. Conclusions. Cardiac surgery in a community hospital can be performed safely with low utilization of allogeneic red blood cell transfusions. A multidisciplinary approach to blood conservation can result in lower transfusion rates and equivalent patient outcomes.
Hemoglobin optimization and transfusion strategies in patients undergoing cardiac surgery
Although red blood cells (RBCs) transfusion is sometimes associated with adverse reactions, anemia could also lead to increased morbidity and mortality in high-risk patients. For these reasons, the definition of perioperative strategies that aims to detect and treat preoperative anemia, prevent excessive blood loss, and define “optimal” transfusion algorithms is crucial. Although the treatment with preoperative iron and erythropoietin has been recommended in some specific conditions, several controversies exist regarding the benefit-to-risk balance associated with these treatments. Further studies are needed to better define the indications, dosage, and route of administration for preoperative iron with or without erythropoietin supplementation. Although restrictive transfusion strategies in patients undergoing cardiac surgery have been shown to effectively reduce the incidence and the amount of RBCs transfusion without increase in side effects, some high-risk patients (e.g., symptomatic acute coronary syndrome) could benefit from higher hemoglobin concentrations. Despite all efforts made last decade, a significant amount of work remains to be done to improve hemoglobin optimization and transfusion strategies in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
BackgroundSafely reducing red blood cell transfusions can prevent transfusion-related adverse effects, conserve the blood supply, and reduce health care costs. Both anemia and red blood cell transfusion are independently associated with AKI, but observational data are insufficient to determine whether a restrictive approach to transfusion can be used without increasing AKI risk.MethodsIn a prespecified kidney substudy of a randomized noninferiority trial, we compared a restrictive threshold for red blood cell transfusion (transfuse if hemoglobin<7.5 g/dl, intraoperatively and postoperatively) with a liberal threshold (transfuse if hemoglobin<9.5 g/dl in the operating room or intensive care unit, or if hemoglobin<8.5 g/dl on the nonintensive care ward). We studied 4531 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who had a moderate-to-high risk of perioperative death. The substudy’s primary outcome was AKI, defined as a postoperative increase in serum crea...
Liberal or Restrictive Transfusion after Cardiac Surgery
New England Journal of Medicine, 2015
BACKGROUND Whether a restrictive threshold for hemoglobin level in red-cell transfusions, as compared with a liberal threshold, reduces postoperative morbidity and health care costs after cardiac surgery is uncertain. METHODS We conducted a multicenter, parallel-group trial in which patients older than 16 years of age who were undergoing nonemergency cardiac surgery were recruited from 17 centers in the United Kingdom. Patients with a postoperative hemoglobin level of less than 9 g per deciliter were randomly assigned to a restrictive transfusion threshold (hemoglobin level <7.5 g per deciliter) or a liberal transfusion threshold (hemoglobin level <9 g per deciliter). The primary outcome was a serious infection (sepsis or wound infection) or an ischemic event (permanent stroke [confirmation on brain imaging and deficit in motor, sensory, or coordination functions], myocardial infarction, infarction of the gut, or acute kidney injury) within 3 months after randomization. Health care costs, excluding the index surgery, were estimated from the day of surgery to 3 months after surgery. RESULTS A total of 2007 patients underwent randomization; 4 participants withdrew, leaving 1000 in the restrictive-threshold group and 1003 in the liberal-threshold group. Transfusion rates after randomization were 53.4% and 92.2% in the two groups, respectively. The primary outcome occurred in 35.1% of the patients in the restrictive-threshold group and 33.0% of the patients in the liberal-threshold group (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91 to 1.34; P = 0.30); there was no indication of heterogeneity according to subgroup. There were more deaths in the restrictive-threshold group than in the liberal-threshold group (4.2% vs. 2.6%; hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.00 to 2.67; P = 0.045). Serious postoperative complications, excluding primary-outcome events, occurred in 35.7% of participants in the restrictive-threshold group and 34.2% of participants in the liberal-threshold group. Total costs did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS A restrictive transfusion threshold after cardiac surgery was not superior to a liberal threshold with respect to morbidity or health care costs.