Transfusion Requirements in Younger Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Inclusion Criteria: 1. ≥18 and ≤65 years of age 2. Planned cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass 3. Informed consent obtained 4. Preoperative European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE I) of 6 or more Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who refuse participation 2. Patients who are unable to receive or who refuse blood products 3. Patients who are involved in a preoperative autologous pre-donation program 4. Patients who are having a heart transplant or having surgery solely for an insertion of a ventricular assist device 5. Pregnancy or lactation (a negative pregnancy test must be obtained prior to randomization for women of childbearing potential)