Mortality risk is dose-dependent on the number of packed red blood cell transfused after coronary artery bypass graft

• Published in: Revista brasileira de cirurgia cardiovascular 2013-10, Vol.28 (4)
• Main Authors: Santos, Antônio Alceu dos, Sousa, Alexandre Gonçalves, Piotto, Raquel Ferrari, Pedroso, Juan Carlos Montano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cardiology; Heart surgery
• ISSN: 0102-7638; 1678-9741
• DOI: 10.5935/1678-9741.20130083

INTRODUCTION: Transfusions of one or more packed red blood cells is a widely strategy used in cardiac surgery, even after several evidences of increased morbidity and mortality. The world's blood shortage is also already evident. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the risk of mortality is dose-dependent on the number of packed red blood cells transfused after coronary artery bypass graft. METHODS: Between June 2009 and July 2010, were analyzed 3010 patients: transfused and non-transfused. Transfused patients were divided into six groups according to the number of packed red blood cells received: one, two, three, four, five, six or more units, then we assess the mortality risk in each group after a year of coronary artery bypass graft. To calculate the odds ratio was used the multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: The increasing number of allogeneic packed red blood cells transfused results in an increasing risk of mortality, highlighting a dose-dependent relation. The odds ratio values increase with the increased number of packed red blood cells transfused. The death's gross odds ratio was 1.42 (P=0.165), 1.94 (P=0.005), 4.17; 4.22, 8.70, 33.33 (P