Hematocrit on cardiopulmonary bypass and outcome after coronary surgery in nontransfused patients.

This retrospective analysis observed an association between the degree of hemodilution during cardiopulmonary bypass and the risk of developing major postoperative morbidity in non-transfused patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery. Therefore, measures to limit the degree of hemodilution in the perioperative period might be beneficial to these patients. However, it must be kept in mind that these results were observed in a low-medium risk population of male patients.

– Philippe Van der Linden