What are the benefits of using erythropoietin in cardiac surgery?
The use of erythropoietin in cardiac surgery has been studied in 12 RCTs and has been shown to be associated with significant risk reduction in allogeneic blood transfusion after cardiac surgery.1112 1122 Additionally, a short-term course of preoperative erythropoietin, to produce a high hematocrit preoperatively, may be administered in patients who refuse blood transfusions during cardiac surgery.1124,1125 Alternatively, autologous blood donation may be used, which consists of extracting 1 to 3 units during the 30 days preoperatively and then reinfusing it during or postoperatively.