Transfusion practice varies widely in cardiac surgery: Results from a national registry

The authors reviewed transfusion practices after cardiac surgery in Australia and New Zealand using a database of nearly 43,000 patients.  Transfusion rates for >=1 unit varied 3-fold (22% to 67%), for >=5 units varied 5-fold, >=1 platelet pack varied 3-fold, >=1 FFP varied 4 fold, and >=1 cryoprecipitate varied 20-fold.  The differences were not explained by patient, surgical, or hospital characteristics.