Anesthetic Techniques

Questions remain regarding the minimal safe hematocrit (Hct) level during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in cardiac surgery. There is conflicting data in the literature on the association between low Hct, renal failure, transfusion and clinical outcomes. This prospective randomized controlled trial is an attempt to address some of these questions and provide a base for further investigation.

Summary This randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effect of heparin-coated oxygenators and substitution of cardiotomy suction with autologous cell salvage on platelet function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Earlier animal studies by this group demonstrated that the oxygenator and cardiotomy suction were the parts of the CPB circuit that impacted most on platelet function.