IntrodutionAllogeneic blood is an exhaustible therapeutic resource. New evidence indicates that blood consumption is excessive and that donations have decreased, resulting in reduced blood supplies worldwide. Blood transfusions are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as higher hospital costs. This makes it necessary to seek out new treatment options. Such options exist but are still virtually unknown and are rarely utilized.ObjectiveTo gather and describe in a systematic, objective, and practical way all clinical and surgical strategies as effective therapeutic options to minimize or avoid allogeneic blood transfusions and their adverse effects in surgical cardiac patients.MethodsA bibliographic search was conducted using the MeSH term “Blood Transfusion” and the terms “Cardiac Surgery” and “Blood Management.” Studies with titles not directly related to this research or that did not contain information related to it in their abstracts as well as older studies reporting on the same strategies were not included.ResultsTreating anemia and thrombocytopenia, suspending anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents, reducing routine phlebotomies, utilizing less traumatic surgical techniques with moderate hypothermia and hypotension, meticulous hemostasis, use of topical and systemic hemostatic agents, acute normovolemic hemodilution, cell salvage, anemia tolerance (supplementary oxygen and normothermia), as well as various other therapeutic options have proved to be effective strategies for reducing allogeneic blood transfusions.ConclusionThere are a number of clinical and surgical strategies that can be used to optimize erythrocyte mass and coagulation status, minimize blood loss, and improve anemia tolerance. In order to decrease the consumption of blood components, diminish morbidity and mortality, and reduce hospital costs, these treatment strategies should be incorporated into medical practice worldwide.

Ebstein's anomaly is a cardiac malformation affecting the tricuspid valve and right ventricle with a wide range of anatomic and pathophysiologic presentations. The cone repair technique is described in detail, as applied to several types of this complex congenital heart disease. The importance of extensive mobilization of displaced and tethered tricuspid leaflets to permit a good leaflet-to-leaflet coaptation after the cone construction is highlighted. This technique was performed in 100 patients with a hospital mortality rate of 3.0%, good clinical outcome, and no need for tricuspid valve replacement. Echocardiograph results showed good anatomic and functional tricuspid valves at immediate and long-term postoperative follow-up.

PRT is a good surgical alternative for treatment of patients with TGA complexes, VSD, and PS, with acceptable operative risk, high long-term survivals, and few reinterventions. Most patients had adequate pulmonary root growth and performance.

Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly. It is a disease at a minimum of the tricuspid valve (TV) and the right ventricular myocardium. Presentation varies from a severe symptomatic form during the neonatal period to an incidental detection later in life due to the wide morphological variation of the condition. The neonatal presentation can be severe and every attempt should be made at medical management ideally into infancy and early childhood. Neonates not eligible or failing medical management should be surgically managed either with a single ventricle palliative approach or a more desirable biventricular repair with a neonatal TV valvuloplasty. Some neonates initially committed to a single ventricle pathway may be converted to a biventricular repair by a delayed TV valvuloplasty. The da Silva Cone repair has become the valvuloplasty of choice especially beyond the neonatal period and can be applied to a wide morphological variation of the condition with good long-term durability. If the chance of a successful TV valvuloplasty is high, it should be offered early in childhood to prevent further cardiac dilation. Adding a Bidirectional Glenn to a valvuloplasty may help salvage marginal risk patients or marginally repairable valves. If valve replacement is the only option, a bioprosthetic valve should be used as it is less thrombogenic especially with marginal right ventricular function. Heart transplantation should be considered in patients with associated left ventricular dysfunction.

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Background: The main Ebstein anomaly (EA) repairs are based on the monocusp reconstruction of the tricuspid valve and are limited by the frequent need for replacement or the high recurrence of valve regurgitation.

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