Autotransfusion in aortic surgery

AIM: Intraoperative autotransfusion has been widely accepted over the past decade; routine and emergency aortic surgery are accepted indications. We present our experience with the use of an auto-hemotransfusion system in aortic surgery. MATERIAL: Between 9/1994 and 11/1996 the auto-hemotranfusion system was used to salvage intraoperative brood in 72 patients undergoing aortic surgery. There were 68 men (94.4%) and 4 women (5.6%) ranging in age between 48-87 years. Forty five (62.5%) were operated on for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm, 26 (36.1%) for aortoiliac occlusive and 1 (1.5%) for aneurysms of innominate - right subsclavian arteries. Pooled and free-flowing blood was sucked from the abdominal cavity into plastic reservoirs using a low pressure (80-100 mmHg) vacuum source intraoperatively and was transfused to the patient. RESULTS: A mean of 60% of total blood loss was salvaged and during the operation each patient was autotransfused with 2-3 units of his own blood, In that way we reduced the amount of required bank blood transfusions from an average of 5-6 to 0-2 units, Good preservation of cellular components, including platelets, was seen and no evidence of coagulopathy was observed. Renal and hepatic function were unaltered and there were no complications attributable to autotransfusion. CONCLUSION: Autotransfusion is a safe and cost-effective method with no attributable complications, in order to salvage blood in major aortic surgery and to protect the patient from immunodeficiency risks.