Red Blood Cell Transfusions Impact Pneumonia Rates After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

This study from the Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Quality Collaborative evaluated outcomes of CABG in 33 hospitals 2011-2013, assessing the association of blood transfusion (39.9% of pts) and the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (3.6% of pts).   Blood transfusion was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia (OR 3.4), and there was a dose-response relationship between the number of units transfused and pneumonia risk.