Transfusion Requirements in Younger Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥18 and ≤65 years of age

2. Planned cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass

3. Informed consent obtained

4. Preoperative European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE I) of 6 or more

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who refuse participation

2. Patients who are unable to receive or who refuse blood products

3. Patients who are involved in a preoperative autologous pre-donation program

4. Patients who are having a heart transplant or having surgery solely for an insertionof a ventricular assist device

5. Pregnancy or lactation (a negative pregnancy test must be obtained prior torandomization for women of childbearing potential)