Randomized Trial of a Liberal Versus a Restrictive Transfusion Strategy in Elderly Cardiac Surgery Patients

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's73 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a less restrictive strategy of red blood cell transfusion in elderly patients following coronary bypass surgery results in enhanced postoperative recovery as determined by quality of life assessment, exercise tolerance and clinical outcomes. Two postoperative transfusion strategies: 1. Liberal - transfused when Hgb is \<100g/L 2. Restrictive - transfused when Hgb is \<70g/L

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Anemia Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 70 YearsMax age: 90 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients \>=70 years of age undergoing non-emergency coronary artery bypass surgery * Initial postoperative hemoglobin level 70-90g/L Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who are unable to provide informed consent in English * Patients with preoperative hemoglobin concentrations \<100g/L * Patients who require emergency re-operation * Patients with intraoperative or postoperative bleeding diathesis * Patients with postoperative clinical instability (eg. low output state) * Patients in whom insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump is required

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Distance walked during 6 minute walk test at 5 weeks postop

Time frame: 5 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

renal failure, hospital length of stay, Quality of Life questionnaire

Time frame: during hospital stay