Perioperative Anemia and Patient Blood Management in Cardiac Surgery
Updated: June 22, 2026
- Preoperative anemia is present in up to 50% of adult patients presenting for cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after surgery.
- Anemia management is a critical component of Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERAS) protocols and requires a strong multidisciplinary commitment to ERAS.
- A structured multidisciplinary approach to intraoperative blood conservation includes minimizing hemodilution, technologic advances in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit, utilizing autologous techniques, and antifibrinolytic drug therapy.
Recommended Reading
- Considerations of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography During Adult Cardiac Surgery
- 2024 Guideline for Perioperative Cardiovascular Management for Noncardiac Surgery
- 2022 Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure
- 2020 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease