Hemodilution Perfusions for Open-Heart Surgery

Abstract

PERFUSION systems for open intracardiac surgery have become increasingly complicated. Compounding the difficulties are requirements for massive amounts of special blood — as much as 10.5 liters per patient.¹ A refreshing change in this trend was brought about by the work of Zuhdi et al.,² who emphasized the effectiveness of low-volume perfusion rates utilizing moderate hypothermia and priming of the pump oxygenator with a restricted amount of 5 per cent dextrose in water. In this way, they accomplished open intracardiac surgery without heparinized blood, using only 2 or 3 units of ordinary bank blood³ to replace thoracotomy losses. We have . . .