Cardiac surgery using only autologous blood for a patient with hereditary spherocytosis: a case report.

A 50-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for possible surgery. Echocardiogram showed severe calcification of the aortic valve, and cardiac catheter examination recorded a gradient greater than 150 mmHg across the valve. These results determined aortic valve replacement (AVR) to relieve the pressure-overloaded ventricle. Preoperative evaluations however, demonstrated anemia derived from hereditary spherocytosis (HS), an inherited hemolytic disorder. In order to avoid homologous blood transfusion, the following strategies were tried; 1) an iron supplement and an injection of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO); 2) pre- and perioperative autologous blood transfusion; and 3) an aggressive iron supplement just after the surgery. These raised the blood hemoglobin concentration to the criterion where autologous blood donation was started, and maintained the hemoglobin level stable, up to his discharge. In conclusion, bloodless cardiac surgery is possible for cases with anemia, and some strategies should be tried to raise and maintain the blood hemoglobin concentration well.