Con: whole blood transfusions are not useful in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Data supporting fresh whole blood transfusion or fresh component therapy are nonblinded, and although both are conceptually attractive, neither can be considered proven. Recent blinded studies reflect fresh blood ineffectiveness. Larger, blinded, randomized trials will need to be performed. Proven methods of blood conservation as well as standardized criteria for transfusion of blood components will more effectively decrease homologous blood transfusion. Transfusion of fresh or banked whole blood, or its components, has yet to be shown to decrease the usage of homologous blood products.