Blood and Blades: The Hidden Mortality Risk in Infective Endocarditis Surgery
A large Dutch study of over 2,400 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for active infective endocarditis reveals a critical clinical challenge: preoperative anaemia is nearly universal (85% of patients), and red blood cell transfusions are extraordinarily common (79%). While the severity of anaemia itself was not an independent predictor of death after adjusting for other factors, receiving a blood transfusion was strongly and independently linked to higher 30-day and 1-year mortality. The findings highlight a specific, modifiable risk factor in a high-stakes surgical population, suggesting that refining transfusion thresholds and improving preoperative anaemia management could directly impact survival.
Why it might matter to you:
This research underscores a concrete, evidence-based target for improving outcomes in acute cardiac care. For clinicians managing complex surgical patients, it reinforces the importance of meticulous perioperative hematologic optimization and challenges reflexive transfusion practices. The study provides a clear rationale for developing institutional protocols aimed at minimizing blood product use, a strategy that could directly enhance patient safety and survival in your future practice.
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