Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery without the routine application of blood products: is it feasible?

The results of this study are rather surprising. The control group receiving FFP required significantly more red cell concentrates (RBCs). One of the reasons explaining this could be that the patients did not benefit from the FFP because it was not indicated. Besides, an “educational effect” may have influenced surgery and the indication of RBC transfusions, as it is often observed in studies comparing the use of autologous and allogeneic blood.

– V. Kretschmer.