Drs. Karl Krieger and Wayne Isom, two of the foremost cardiothoracic surgeons have brought together many of the top cardiologists and hematologists as well as most of their department at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center to produce an impressive book on blood conservation and transfusion in cardiac surgery. The book will serve as the most current reference source on all aspects of blood conservation, from the use of erythropoietin to the benefits of post- operative blood salvage. In addition, the book outlines an overall clinical approach to blood transfusion and conservation. The subject matter covers numerous areas involved in the preoperative considerations in cardiac surgery, the intraoperative decision making in cardiac surgery, postoperative bleeding and management and a section on the algorithm for bloodless surgery at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.