Cardiac Surgery and Blood-Saving Techniques: An Update

Cardiac surgery is typically attributed with a significant risk of intraoperative blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusions. Intraoperative blood loss, allogenic blood transfusions, high dose anticoagulation requirement, and interactions with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have all been linked to cardiac surgeries. To reduce unnecessary transfusions and their negative effects, it is recommended to follow evidence-based multidisciplinary strategies, which are collectively termed patient blood management (PBM). This review highlights the most recent blood conservation strategies in adult cardiac surgery, which can be employed pre-operatively, intra-operatively, and postoperatively, to enhance red cell mass and attenuate the utilization of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and other blood products.