Clinical and economic outcomes associated with blood transfusions among elderly Americans following coronary artery bypass graft surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass.

In contrast to other (single-center) studies, the authors analyzed, at the scale of a country, the United Sates, using Medicare data, the relationship between perioperative blood transfusion and adverse events in adults 65 years and older who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Not surprisingly, they confirmed that blood transfusion was significantly associated with increased long-term postoperative morbidity, mortality and overall healthcare costs.

– Michael Piagnerelli