Preoperative anemia increases mortality and postoperative morbidity after cardiac surgery.

The authors assessed the impact of preoperative anaemia (according to the WHO definition) on patient outcome within 30 days after cardiac surgery. Anaemia was frequent (24%) and significantly increased the risk of death, renal dysfunction, stroke, arrhythmias and hospital length of stay.

This paper adds to the increasing body of evidence that preoperative anaemia is not a cosmetic lab problem but a strong predictor of adverse non-cardiac and cardiac outcomes. Guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology already recommend correction of anaemia (even if mild/moderate) before any major elective surgical procedure.

– Sibylle Kozek-Langenecker

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