ABSTRACT
Blood transfusion is an integral part of cardiac surgery; however, transfusion of blood and blood products has inherent hazards. Avoidance of blood transfusion during cardiac surgery eliminates the hazards of blood transfusion and improves the outcome. This study compares the post-operative outcome of patients who underwent cardiac surgery without blood transfusion with those who required multiple blood transfusions.METHODSPatients who underwent cardiac surgery in a unit in Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS), SSKM Hospital, between January 2017 to December 2018 were studied retrospectively. The study population was divided into 2 groups. Those patients who underwent cardiac surgery and did not receive blood transfusion were included in Group A (n=68) and those who received multiple blood transfusion were included in Group B (n=340). Statistical data was analysed.RESULTSThe recovery of patients in terms of mechanical ventilation time (mean, 8.2 vs 12.5 hrs.), length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (mean, 1.5 vs 3.3 days) was significantly shorter in group A patients than group B. The length of hospital stay also was significantly less in group A patients (mean 5.2 vs 7.3 days, p=<0.0001). Patients with history of smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), had higher incidences of blood transfusions (p-0.003, 0.001 respectively). There was lesser incidence of surgical site infection and respiratory complications in Group A patients, but it was not statistically significant. However, incidence of haematuria was more in Group B patients which was clinically significant (p = 0.011). There was no incidence of renal failure, mediastinal bleeding requiring re-exploration, jaundice and mortality in Group A patients.CONCLUSIONSCareful surgical and perfusion techniques, with meticulous haemostasis should be performed in all patients of cardiac surgery. Elimination of blood during cardiac surgery augments faster recovery of patients.