Advance targeted transfusion in anemic cardiac surgical patients for kidney protection: an unblinded randomized pilot clinical trial.

This pilot clinical trial assessed the effects of “prophylactic“ red blood cell transfusion on the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in cardiac surgery patients with moderate anemia (hemoglobin 10–12 g/dL). Although the study did not have the power to conclude definitely, it sheds some light on the possible role of modifications of iron metabolism associated with the transfusion of banked blood on the development of postoperative AKI.

– Philippe Van der Linden