The impact of red blood cell storage duration on tissue oxygenation in cardiac surgery

Christopher P. Stowell, Glenn Whitman, Suzanne Granger, Hernando Gomez, Susan F. Assmann, Michael J. Massey, Nathan I. Shapiro, Marie E. Steiner, Elliott Bennett-Guerrero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Although storage alters red blood cells, several recent, randomized trials found no differences in clinical outcomes between patients transfused with red blood cells stored for shorter versus longer periods of time. The objective of this study was to see whether storage impairs the in vivo ability of erythrocytes to traverse the microcirculation and deliver oxygen at the tissue level. Methods A subset of subjects from a clinical trial of cardiac surgery patients randomized to receive transfusions of red blood cells stored ≤10 days or ≥21 days were assessed for thenar eminence and cerebral tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO2) via the use of near-infrared spectroscopy and sublingual microvascular blood flow via side-stream darkfield videomicroscopy. Results Among 55 subjects, there was little change in the primary endpoint (thenar eminence StO2 from before to after transfusion of one unit) and the change was similar in the 2 groups: +1.7% (95% confidence interval, −0.3, 3.8) for shorter-storage and +0.8% (95% confidence interval, −1.1, 2.9) for longer-storage; P = .61). Similarly, no significant differences were observed for cerebral StO2 or sublingual microvascular blood flow. These parameters also were not different from preoperatively to 1 day postoperatively, reflecting the absence of a cumulative effect of all red blood cell units transfused during this period. Conclusions There were no differences in thenar eminence or cerebral StO2, or sublingual microcirculatory blood flow, in cardiac surgery patients transfused with red blood cells stored ≤10 days or ≥21 days. These results are consistent with the clinical outcomes in the parent study, which also did not differ, indicating that storage may not impair oxygen delivery by red blood cells in this setting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)610-619.e2
JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume153
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Keywords

  • RBC storage
  • microcirculation
  • tissue oxygenation
  • transfusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The impact of red blood cell storage duration on tissue oxygenation in cardiac surgery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this