What are the effects of leukocyte-depleted blood transfusions on patients undergoing cardiac surgery?
Leukocyte-depleted blood transfusions have been shown to reduce the rates of perioperative infection and in-hospital death in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A randomized controlled trial showed that those receiving leukocyte-depleted blood had a reduced rate of mortality (transfused/nonfiltered patient mortality rate, 7.8%; transfused/filtered at the time of donation, 3.6%; and transfused/filtered at the time of transfusion, 3.3% [P 0.019]). Leukodepletion can be accomplished by the blood bank at the time of donation or at the bedside at the time of transfusion (with the use of an inexpensive in-line transfusion filter).