[HSF] More Bad News About Trasylol

[Ben Bidstrup]

>John,
>   I completely agree.  It is ridiculous to state that each unit  of packed
>cells increases the mortality 7%.  If so, I would have had cases  who did fine
>in spite of a 140% predicted mortality.  The 82 yo lady I'm  supposed to do
>tomorrow has a HCT of 34.  She needs a redo CABG (1 graft),  mitral 
>and tricuspid
>repairs.  The EF is normal.  I suspect I'll  use 5 or 6 units of blood.  Do
>you think I just increased her predicted  mortality an additional 30% in
>addition to the inherent 15% risk?   Neither do I.
>Hal
>_______________________________________________
Read the papers. None state that each unit of RBC increases the risk 
by 7% - but that there is a dose dependent reduction in survival 
after transfusion.
-- 
Ben Bidstrup FRACS FRCSEd FEBCTS
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon