Infectious Complications After Cardiac Surgery: Lack of Association With Fresh Frozen Plasma or Platelet Transfusions

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perioperative transfusion of platelets and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) on infection rates after cardiac surgery. Design: Retrospective study comparing infection rates after cardiac surgery among patients receiving combinations of packed red blood cells (PRBCs), platelets, and FFP. Setting: Tertiary care university teaching hospital. Participants: All elective primary coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery patients from July 1995 to January 1998 before introduction of leukocyte-reduced blood products. Interventions: Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were applied to identify clinical risk factors for postoperative infection and to determine the relationship between perioperative administration of PRBCs, platelets, and FFP with postoperative infection. Measurements and Main Results: Transfusion of PRBCs, diabetes, age, preoperative hematocrit, and the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass were significantly associated with postoperative infection; platelet or FFP transfusion added no additional risk to PRBC transfusion alone. Conclusions: Infectious complications in a population of adult primary CABG surgery patients were not increased by transfusion of platelets or FFP. It is PRBC transfusion that confers an increased risk of postoperative infection in this population.