Transfusion of 1 and 2 units of red blood cells does not increase mortality and organ failure in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting

The analysis compares 1478 patients who underwent CABG and received no red blood cell (RBC) transfusion to 1528 CABG patients with 1–2 units of RBCs. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. The propensity score-adjusted odds ratio (OR) in the RBC+ group was 0.29 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06–1.50; P = 0.14]. Major clinical complications did not differ significantly between groups.