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Much debate still exists on the minimum level of normovolemic hemodilutional anemia that is safe to maintain oxygen delivery within the physiological range [1]. Normothermia during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) raises the question of adequate regional and whole body oxygen delivery under conditions of hemodilutional anemia [2]. We performed a prospective, controlled and randomized study to investigate oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and clinical outcome of patients who were randomly allocated to a hematocrit of 20% or 25%, respectively, during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass for isolated CABG surgery.