How Should We Gauge the Risk/Benefit Relationship of Cryoprecipitate Transfusion After Cardiac Operations?

In this issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, there is a provocative article that addresses the circumstances and implications of transfusion of cryoprecipitate in cardiac surgical patients. 1 Hinton J.V. Xing Z. Fletcher C.M. et al. Association of perioperative cryoprecipitate transfusion and mortality after cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2023; 116: 401-412 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1) Google Scholar The authors provide an analysis of cryoprecipitate transfusion in patients obtained from a large multinational database. They performed propensity score matching to define significant outcomes in patients who received cryoprecipitate transfusion. There were 4 significant findings in this matched comparison of 94,055 patients. Compared with matched controls, cryoprecipitate transfusion was associated with (1) reduced operative and long-term mortality, (2) reduced postoperative acute kidney injury, (3) reduced all-cause infection, but (4) increased perioperative bleeding complications including transfusion. The authors concluded that perioperative cryoprecipitate transfusion is associated with reduced operative and long-term mortality despite observed increased blood product transfusions. Association of Perioperative Cryoprecipitate Transfusion and Mortality After Cardiac SurgeryThe Annals of Thoracic SurgeryVol. 116Issue 2PreviewCryoprecipitate is often transfused in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, its safety and effectiveness remain uncertain. Full-Text PDF