Ahmedabad hospitals join global blood transfusion study for cardiac surgeries, f

Ahmedabad: An ongoing international study examining blood transfusion practices during cardiac surgeries, especially among younger patients, will see participation from city-based hospitals, said Dr David Mazer, professor of anaesthesiology and pain medicine at the University of Toronto and Cara Phelan Chair in Critical Care at St Michael's Hospital, Canada. Prof Mazer, the principal investigator of Transfusion Requirements in Cardiac Surgery (TRICS) studies, interacted with the medical fraternity at a hospital in the city on Friday.The earlier phase of the TRICS research — its third phase, concluded in 2017 — significantly shaped global understanding of transfusion thresholds in cardiac surgery. The findings showed that long-term outcomes were similar whether patients maintained haemoglobin levels of 9.5 g/dL or 7.5 g/dL. The results supported a more restrictive transfusion strategy, helping reduce the need for blood transfusions and lowering associated risks such as infections.
Talking to TOI, Dr Mazer said that the fourth phase of the TRICS project is ongoing, and India-based hospitals are also partners. This phase focuses on younger patients undergoing cardiac surgery. "This phase is examining similar clinical questions, but specifically in younger patients," he said. "The focus has shifted to this group because of the rising burden of cardiovascular disease among younger individuals due to multiple factors. We hope the ongoing study will help refine treatment protocols, especially in countries with a higher disease burden."City-based cardiac surgeons noted that major cardiac surgeries previously required as many as 8 to 10 units of blood. With advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, transfusion requirements have, in many cases, been reduced to up to two units.