Alternatives to preoperative transfusion should be preferred in anemic cardiac surgical patients instead of useless transfusion

摘要

We read with great interest the recent article published by Karkouti et al. about prophylactic erythrocyte transfusion in anemic patients scheduled for cardiac surgery.1 We are very concerned by the concept of "prophylactic packed erythrocyte transfusion" before elective surgery.The authors stated "this pilot study showed that in anemic cardiac surgical patients, prophylactic transfusion of 2 units of erythrocytes 1 to 2 days before surgery safely reduces perioperative anemia and erythrocyte transfusions, and may reduce plasma iron level."