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. 2023 Sep 8;2023(9):CD001888. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001888.pub5

18. Overview of results: Cardiovascular (no bypass).

Outcome Total
[95% CI]
Subgroup: blood salvage (collection time) Subgroup: transfusion threshold
Intraoperative Postoperative Both No transfusion threshold Liberal threshold (Hb > 80 g/L) Restrictive threshold (Hb80 g/L)
Risk of transfusion RR 0.82 [0.69, 0.97]
3 RCTs, N = 169
⨁⨁⨁◯
RR 0.83 [0.69, 1.00] *
2 RCTs, N = 110
⨁⨁◯◯
RR 0.78 [0.53, 1.15]
1 RCT, N = 59
⨁⨁◯◯
    RR 0.83 [0.70, 0.98]
2 RCTs, N = 108
⨁⨁⨁◯
RR 0.59 [0.19, 1.81]
1 RCT, N = 61
⨁⨁◯◯
Volume transfused (PPR) MD ‐0.90 [‐1.78, ‐0.01]
5 RCTs, N = 312
⨁◯◯◯
MD ‐0.69 [‐1.64, 0.25]
4 RCTs, N = 270
⨁◯◯◯
MD ‐2.30 [‐4.13, ‐0.47]
1 RCT, N = 42
⨁◯◯◯
  MD ‐2.30 [‐4.13, ‐0.47]
1 RCT, N = 42
⨁◯◯◯
MD ‐0.86 [‐4.31, 2.59]
1 RCT, N = 49
⨁◯◯◯
MD ‐0.68 [‐1.67, 0.31]
3 RCTs, N = 221
⨁◯◯◯
Volume transfused (PPT) MD 0.13 [‐0.80, 1.07]
2 RCTs, N = 56
⨁⨁◯◯
MD 0.13 [‐0.80, 1.07]
2 RCTs, N = 56
⨁⨁◯◯
      MD ‐0.55 [‐4.33, 3.23]
1 RCT, N = 45
⨁⨁◯◯
MD 0.18 [‐0.79, 1.15]
1 RCT, N = 11
⨁⨁◯◯
All‐cause mortality POR 0.13 [0.01, 2.07]
4 RCTs, N = 209
⨁◯◯◯
Not estimable (zero cases)
3 RCTs, N = 150
⨁◯◯◯
POR 0.13 [0.01, 2.07]
1 RCT, N = 59
⨁◯◯◯
    POR 0.13 [0.01, 2.07]
2 RCTs, N = 108
⨁◯◯◯
Not estimable (zero cases)
2 RCTs, N = 101
⨁◯◯◯
Blood loss MD ‐62.55 [‐195.34, 70.24]
3 RCTs, N = 131
⨁⨁◯◯
MD ‐23.31 [‐195.59, 148.96]
2 RCTs, N = 89
⨁⨁⨁◯
MD ‐120.00 [‐328.45, 88.45]
1 RCT, N = 42
⨁◯◯◯
  MD ‐120.00 [‐328.45, 88.45]
1 RCT, N = 42
⨁◯◯◯
MD 39.00 [‐411.23, 489.23]
1 RCT, N = 49
⨁◯◯◯
MD ‐34.00 [‐220.47, 152.47]
1 RCT, N = 40
⨁⨁⨁◯
Re‐operation RR 0.32 [0.04, 2.92]
2 RCTs N = 108
⨁◯◯◯
Not estimable (zero cases)
1 RCT, N = 49
⨁◯◯◯
RR 0.32 [0.04, 2.92]
1 RCT, N = 59
⨁◯◯◯
    RR 0.32 [0.04, 2.92]
1 RCTs, N = 108
⨁◯◯◯
 
Infection POR 2.06 [0.21, 20.61]
2 RCTs, N = 110
⨁◯◯◯
POR 2.06 [0.21, 20.61]
2 RCTs, N = 110
⨁◯◯◯
      Not estimable (zero cases)
1 RCT, N = 49
⨁◯◯◯
POR 2.06 [0.21, 20.61]
1 RCT, N = 61
⨁◯◯◯
Wound complication POR 1.00 [0.06, 15.98]
3 RCTs, N = 169
⨁◯◯◯
POR 7.64 [0.15, 385.21]
2 RCTs, N = 110
⨁◯◯◯
POR 0.13 [0.00, 6.59]
1 RCT, N = 59
⨁◯◯◯
    POR 0.13 [0.00, 6.59]
1 RCTs, N = 108
⨁◯◯◯
POR 7.64 [0.15, 385.21]
1 RCT, N = 61
⨁◯◯◯
VTE/thrombosis              
DVT              
PE              
MACE              
MI POR 1.98 [0.20, 19.32]
2 RCTs, N = 120
⨁◯◯◯
POR 7.91 [0.48, 129.46]
1 RCT, N = 61
⨁◯◯◯
POR 0.13 [0.00, 6.59]
1 RCT, N = 59
⨁◯◯◯
    POR 0.13 [0.00, 6.59]
1 RCT, n = 59
⨁◯◯◯
POR 7.91 [0.48, 129.46]
1 RCT, N = 61
⨁◯◯◯
CVA/stroke POR 0.98 [0.06, 15.72]
3 RCTs, N = 160
⨁◯◯◯
POR 7.39 [0.15, 372.38]
2 RCTs, N = 101
⨁◯◯◯
POR 0.13 [0.00, 6.59]
1 RCT, N = 59
⨁◯◯◯
    POR 0.13 [0.00, 6.59]
1 RCT, N = 59
⨁◯◯◯
POR 7.39 [0.15, 372.38]
2 RCTs, N = 101
⨁◯◯◯
Hospital LOS MD ‐1.34 [‐3.62, 0.95]
2 RCTs, N = 160
⨁◯◯◯
MD ‐1.34 [‐3.62, 0.95]
2 RCTs, N = 160
⨁◯◯◯
        MD ‐1.34 [‐3.62, 0.95]
2 RCTS, N = 160
⨁◯◯◯

Bolded data highlights where there was a clear intervention effect.

* neared an intervention effect (touched the line of no effect)

"Volume" refers to mean transfusion volume; "transfusions" refers to number of people receiving an allogeneic transfusion

CI: confidence interval; CVA: cerebrovascular accident; DVT: deep vein thrombosis; Hb: haemoglobin; LOS: hospital length of stay; MACE: major adverse cardiovascular events; MD: mean difference; MI: myocardial infarction; N: number of people analysed; PE: pulmonary embolism; PJI: prosthetic joint infection; POR: Peto odds ratio; PPR: per person randomised; PPT: per person transfused; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RD: risk difference; RR: risk ratio; VTE: venous thromboembolism

⨁◯◯◯ = Very low certainty; ⨁⨁◯◯ = Low certainty; ⨁⨁⨁◯ = Moderate certainty; ⨁⨁⨁⨁ = High certainty