Autotransfusion and hemoseparation in cardiac surgery. What can be saved in cardiac reoperations and operations of thoracic aortic aneurysms?

In 149 patients, scheduled for cardiac reoperations, repair of cyanotic heart disease or resection of aneurysms of the ascending or descending aorta, the effect of intraoperative hemoseparation was studied. The amount of autologous blood which was collected before, during, and after systemic heparinisation and processed to washed packed red cells was registered. Mean packed cell quantities gained intraoperatively were: 1275 (1006-2067) ml (descending aortic aneurysm), 1800 (1186-2500) ml (ascending aortic aneurysm), 1524 (1030-1801) ml (single valve rereplacement), 1896 (1398-2368) ml (double valve rereplacement), 946 (800-1050) ml (coronary artery reoperation), 1362 (922-1455) ml (cyanotic heart disease) and 1519 (1194-2066) ml (miscellaneous cardiac operations). In 35 patients more than 2000 ml and in 14 patients more than 3000 ml packed cells were harvested. Based on body weight, relatively more packed cells could be gained in patients with cyanotic heart disease (41 ml/kg) than in the other groups (21 ml/kg). In these young patients the application of a smaller centrifuge bowl (125 ml) can be helpful. These results demonstrate that cell saving by means of a cell separator with a special suction line and collecting system can help to reduce the donor blood requirement in cardiac operations, in which large intraoperative blood loss is anticipated.