Transfusion of sex-mismatched and non–leukocyte-depleted red blood cells in cardiac surgery increases mortality

The authors analyzed long-term outcomes after cardiac surgery in nearly 10,000 patients to evaluate the mortality risk of blood transfusion.  Sex-mismatched transfusion increased mortality, and use of non-leukocyte-depleted blood was associated with increased mortality.  The age of the blood productes was not related to mortality.
Commentary: http://www.jtcvsonline.org/article/S0022-5223(16)30028-9/fulltext