The study is an randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 198 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients, exploring whether ultrafiltration of residual blood in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit reduces transfusion and bleeding.

Blood products are a limited resource and cardiac surgery is a high consumer. Processing residual cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) volume via ultrafiltration may improve hemostasis and reduce transfusion through clearing activated complement, activated coagulation components, and proinflammatory cytokines. Unlike cell saver technology, ultrafiltration has the advantage of maintaining plasma proteins, platelets, and coagulation factors. We sought to establish if the processing of residual CPB volume with ultrafiltration reduces homologous blood transfusion and bleeding.

Inclusion Criteria:

• at least 18 years of age
• were to undergo isolated on-pump CABG
• were able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• performed autologous blood donation
• underwent off-pump CABG
• emergency procedure
• resternotomy
• known bleeding disorder not drug related
• history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
• Jehovah's Witness
• intra-operative catastrophe prior to randomization