Improving patients' readiness for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Preoperative interventions improve outcomes for patients after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).

Objective: To reduce mortality for patients undergoing urgent CABG.

Methods: Eight centers implemented preoperative aspirin and statin, preinduction heart rate less than 80/min, hematocrit greater than 30%, blood sugar less than 150 mg/dL (8.

Rationalising the treatment of anaemia in cardiac surgery: short and mid-term results from a local quality improvement initiative.

Background: Transfusion of red blood cells, while often used for treating blood loss or haemodilution, is also associated with higher infection rates and mortality. The authors implemented an initiative to reduce variation in the number of perioperative transfusions associated with cardiac surgery.

Methods: The authors examined patients undergoing non-emergent cardiac surgery at a single centre from the third quarter 2004 to the second quarter 2007.