title: Bloodless cardiac surgery: not just possible, but preferable.
abstract: Blood transfusions after cardiac surgery are very common, and the rates are highly variable among institutions. Transfusion carries the risk of infectious and noninfectious hazards and is often clinically unnecessary. This article discusses the history of bloodless cardiac surgery, the hazards of transfusion, the benefits of reducing or eliminating transfusion, and strategies to conserve blood. It also provides a list of resources for those who are interested in learning more about bloodless care.
authors.affiliation: Open Heart Recovery Unit, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, Fla, USA. leeann-putney@smh.com
authors.forename: Leeann J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Putney
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D033221:Jehovah's Witnesses; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D018579:Patient Selection; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001802:Blood Substitutes