Transfusion Trigger After Operations in High Cardiac Risk Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females older than 18 years of age who have postoperative Hb \< 10gm/dl within 15 days after the index operation * Patients who undergo an operation in either one of the three following categories: * Veterans who undergo PAD - related operations including but not limited to the following: * aortobifemoral or aortobiiliac bypass * open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with simultaneous repair of aortoiliac occlusive disease * visceral bypass * iliofemoral bypass * femoral bypass or endarterectomy * infrainguinal bypass * thromboembolectomy * supra-aortic trunk bypass or endarterectomy * carotid endarterectomy * major lower extremity amputations (transfemoral, through the knee, or transtibial) * Veterans with past medical history of ischemic stroke or IHD or PAD who undergo the following general surgery procedures, defined as: * known prior MI * ECG findings consistent with prior MI * prior percutaneous coronary intervention * prior coronary artery bypass surgery * history of angina for which the patient is currently receiving treatment * stress test indicating myocardial ischemia * who undergo the following General Surgery operations: * Open cholecystectomy or other complex biliary reconstruction * such as open common bile duct exploration for stones * reconstruction as part of oncologic operations such as palliative pancreatic cancer procedures) *…