Hemodilution and autotransfusion in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Better understanding and advances in the management of neonates undergoing cardiac surgery have increased their survival. Twenty neonates were studied to evaluate the technique of acute hemodilution in open cardiac surgery. They were premedicated by rectal barbiturate, anesthetized and monitored for all vital signs and blood chemistry. Patients operated upon with hemodilution suffered less respiratory acidosis during bypass. They showed marked drop in pH which was rapidly corrected in the postoperative period. No significant change in blood pressure from the expected was observed. These neonates (with hemodilution) had more tendency to fluid retention, which is not of appreciable clinical significance. The technique of acute hemodilution in neonates undergoing open cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation proved to be successful.