Preoperative hematocrit as a predictor of perioperative morbidities following nonemergent coronary artery bypass surgery.

This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data reports that, among 2300 patients undergoing non-emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a low preoperative haematocrit was associated with an increased risk of major postoperative morbidity in the higher risk tertile according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk score. In addition, intraoperative transfusion was associated with greater odds of major morbidity across all risk groups.

These results confirm that preoperative strategies aiming at managing preoperative anaemia are required in order to reduce intraoperative transfusion and possibly improve the outcome of patients undergoing CABG surgery.

– Philippe Van der Linden

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