Factors associated with blood transfusion in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery = Fatores associados à transfusão sanguínea no período pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca

:  This study aims to identify the factors associated with blood transfusion in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery, and the predominant types of blood products used. Analytical and retrospective study carried out in a large teaching hospital located in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected from 460 medical records of patients who underwent cardiac surgery between July 2005 and July 2010. There were 290 (63%) patients received blood transfusions in the intra- and/or postoperative period. The mean age was 57.9 years; 59.6% were male; 74.8% presented with systemic arterial hypertension as a comorbidity; and 97.2% of the surgeries were elective, with myocardial revascularization being the most prevalent type of surgery. In the intraoperative period, 75 (25.9%) patients received blood transfusions, and in the postoperative period 273 (94.1%) patients received blood transfusions, with red blood cell concentrate being the predominant type of blood product used. There was a statistically significant association between postoperative blood transfusion and the variables age group, complications and intraoperative blood transfusion. Blood transfusion remains a frequent procedure in cardiac surgeries, and age group, complications and intraoperative blood transfusion were independent predictors for postoperative blood transfusion.