Blood loss from coronary angiography increases transfusion requirements for coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Objective: To determine the blood loss associated with coronary angiography and its impact on hemoglobin and transfusion requirements for subsequent c oronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Tertiary-care, academic medical center. Participants:A total of 506 adult patients undergoing coronary angiography and CABG surgery. Interventions: None (observational study). Measurements and Main Results: Coronary angiography was associated with a r eduction in hemoglobin of 1.8 g/dL. This reduction in hemoglobin was a sign ificant predictor of allogeneic red blood cell transfusion. Conclusion: Coronary angiography contributes to a 1.8 g/dL reduction in hem oglobin concentration before CABG surgery and was associated with increased transfusion of allogeneic blood products. Measures aimed at maintaining re d cell volume during coronary angiography, increasing erythropoiesis, or de laying surgery beyond 2 weeks may result in a decrease in transfusion requi rements for patients undergoing CABG surgery. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Sa unders Company.