The impact of red blood cell storage duration on tissue oxygenation in cardiac surgery

There were no differences in thenar eminence or cerebral StO2, or sublingual microcirculatory blood flow, in cardiac surgery patients transfused with red blood cells stored ≤10 days or ≥21 days. These results are consistent with the clinical outcomes in the parent study, which also did not differ, indicating that storage may not impair oxygen delivery by red blood cells in this setting.