Blood Transfusion in Surgery II: Cardiac and Vascular Surgery

Blood transfusion in cardiac surgery accounts for 10-14% o f all red cells tran s­ fused in the U nited States. M ean usage/patient is abou t 5 units, a lthough there is a huge variation betw een different institu tions. This results in 1.2 m illion units per year transfused in the U nited States. Transfusion practices in cardiac surgery are, therefore, o f great im portance to hospital b lood banks.