Transfusion in Elective Aortic Root Replacement: Analysis of the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

BACKGROUND:Data on blood utilization in proximal aortic surgery is limited. We sought to establish quality benchmarks in the pattern of transfusion during elective aortic root replacement. METHODS:The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried to identify all patients who underwent primary elective aortic root replacement between July 2014 and June 2017. Multivariable negative binomial regressions were utilized to determine whether perioperative transfusion was associated with demographic and/or procedural factors. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed for clinical outcomes. RESULTS:Of 5559 patients analyzed, 38.95% (n = 2165) received no blood products. Patients who had a valve-sparing root replacement were less likely to be transfused than those who received composite roots (bioprosthetic or mechanical valves) or homografts. Thirty-day mortality for all patients was 2.57% (n = 143). Transfusion was associated with an increased risk of death at 30 days (odds ratio {OR} 1.833, p = 0.0124), more frequent reoperation for bleeding (OR 1.766, p = 0.0006), prolonged ventilation (OR 1.935, p \u3c 0.0001), a longer postoperative hospital stay (OR 1.056, p \u3c 0.0001), and a higher incidence of new dialysis-dependent renal failure (OR 2.088, p = 0.0031). There was no correlation between institutional case volume and transfusion practice. CONCLUSIONS:Elective aortic root replacement can be performed with acceptable requirements for blood products. Composite root replacement has a greater likelihood of transfusion than does a valve-sparing procedure. Transfusion is independently associated with more complications after elective aortic root surgery, including 30-day mortality