CABG Patients Transfused with Allogeneic Blood Vulnerable to Infection

A transfusion in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients receiving allogeneic blood (from another of the same species) is associated with a two-fold increase in postoperative infection rates.

Hospital variation in blood use and outcomes in cardiac surgery patients were assessed to see if unnecessary blood transfusions put the safety of patients at risk. Overall, 30% of the variation in transfusion practices was found to be attributable to the hospital where the CABG was performed.

Mary A.M. Rogers Ph.D. M.S. at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) led the team of scientists who carried out a study of almost 25,000 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients receiving allogeneic blood. She commented, "The safety of patients undergoing CABG will likely be improved if hospitals carefully review current guidelines on allogeneic blood transfusion, closely adhere to such guidelines, and institute interventions to reduce inappropriate use of blood transfusions in recipients of CABG."

The study was reported in the July 31, 2009 journal BCM Medicine. The authors concluded that allogeneic blood transfusions were associated with increased infection risk at multiple sites. Their findings suggested a system-wide immune response.

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University of Michigan
BCM Medicine