Salvage autotransfusion in aortic surgery: Initial studies using a disposable reservoir

Abstract

Transmission of disease by allogeneic transfusion can be avoided using several techniques by which a patient receives his own blood. Sixty patients undergoing aortic surgery consented to salvage interoperative autotransfusion. A mean of 895 ml shed blood was reinfused under full heparinization, representing 12-74 per cent of total blood loss. Bank blood requirements fell from 4·9 units to 3·4. No important haematological or clinical complications were noted (including coagulation studies) but haemolysis was detected 4 h postoperatively by plasma haemoglobin levels of 0·05 ± 0·03 g/dl. This preliminary study confirms the applicability of salvage autotransfusion during elective vascular surgery by demonstrating an appreciable saving in bank blood transfusion (70 per cent).