Autologous blood transfusion--1989

Autologous blood donation in total hip replacement

The effectiveness of autologous blood donation in reducing the need for homologous transfusion was evaluated in a review of 529 consecutive total hip replacements (THR) from 1988 to 1992. The review was retrospective from 1988 to 1990 and prospective from 1991 to 1992. Since 1988 there have been 188 primary THR performed using autologous blood donation. In 1988-89, this represented 18% of all primary THR, in 1990 37% and in 1991-92 73%. This increase reflects a growing enthusiasm for the programme and a loosening of age restrictions. In 1991-92, 4% of autologous donors undergoing primary THR required homologous transfusions compared to 84% of non-autologous donors. Over the same period after revision THR, 36% of autologous donors required homologous transfusions compared to 100% of non-autologous donors. The participation rate of patients undergoing revision THR was 33%. The prospective part of the study in 1991-92 compared autologous and matched non-autologous patients. Blood loss, transfusion volumes and operating time were identical. The pre- and postoperative haemoglobin concentrations in the autologous group were lower by 15 and 10 g/L, respectively, after primary THR and by 10 g/L in both instances after revision THR. This was not reflected in a longer admission.

Autologous blood transfusion for the patient with placenta previa complicated by placenta increta: a case report

The patient, who was 34 years of age, had previously had a transverse incision of the lower uterine segment cesarean section because of placenta previa. She was admitted to the hospital due to placenta previa again at 27 weeks of gestation in the current pregnancy. Ultrasound examination revealed placenta increta as well as placenta previa. In an attempt to avoid homologous blood transfusion at the time of profuse hemorrhage anticipated to occur during cesarean section, an autologous blood transfusion was planned. Fifteen hundred ml of autologous blood was collected by a leap-frog method during the 8 weeks prior to cesarean section. A cesarean hysterectomy was performed at 37 weeks of gestation because of placenta increta. Blood loss was estimated at 1,830 ml, and 1,500 ml of autologous blood was transfused. A leap-frog method of autologous blood collection for this pregnant woman with risk of massive hemorrhage was simple and beneficial, resulting in the preservation of more than 1,500 ml of autologous blood for transfusion.

Plasma levels of the lipid mediators, leukotriene B4 and lyso platelet-activating factor, in intraoperative salvaged blood

It has been shown that white cells and platelets release their granules into the plasma of salvaged blood. Whether this release is due to destruction alone or a combination of destruction and activation is not known. Lipid mediators, platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4, are produced by activated white cells and platelets and have effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems and the microcirculation. The aim was to determine if white cells and platelets are activated in salvaged blood by measuring the levels of these lipid mediators. Ten patients undergoing aortic surgery, where intraoperative salvage was used, were studied. Blood samples were taken from the patient's circulation and the salvaged blood before and after washing. The levels of leukotriene (LTB4) and lyso platelet-activating factor (PAF, the stable degradation product of PAF) were measured in the samples by a radioimmunoassay and a bioassay, respectively. The levels of both these substances increased in the unwashed salvaged blood (mean patient levels: LTB4 27 +/- 4.3 ng/ml and L-PAF 73 +/- 8.5 ng/ml; mean unwashed blood levels: LTB4 95 +/- 12.2 ng/ml and L-PAF 172.9 +/- 26.4 ng/ml) and were reduced by washing of the collected blood (mean washed blood levels of LTB4, 23.9 +/- 4.8 ng/ml, and L-PAF 18 +/- 5 ng/ml). The increase of the lipid mediators in the unwashed salvaged blood indicates that white cells and platelets are activated and releasing lipid mediators. Washing of the collected blood is effective in removing the lipid mediators.

Levels of complement factor C3 and its activated product, C3a, in operatively salvaged blood

In intra-operative blood salvage the collected blood is exposed to traumatized tissue and a synthetic circuit. Because of this exposure it was expected that the complement system, which is a contact system present in plasma, would be activated in salvaged blood. To determine whether this occurs, the plasma levels of the complement factor C3 and its activated fragment, C3a, were measured in intra-operative salvaged blood before and after washing. Samples were obtained from patients undergoing aortic surgery where intra-operative salvage was used. In the unwashed salvaged blood, the level of C3 fell (mean C3: 0.33 g/L) and the level of C3a increased (mean C3a: 1994 ng/mL) compared with the patient circulating levels of C3 and C3a (mean C3: 0.70 g/L, mean C3a: 855 ng/mL) respectively. Washing of the collected blood reduced the C3a level (mean: 346 ng/mL) to the patient's level and reduced C3 to the lower detection limit of the test (less than 0.2 g/L). The raised level of C3a and the reduced level of C3 confirm that the complement system is activated and imply that other complement factors are also activated.