Intraoperative autologous blood transfusion in laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy

Objective Our purpose was to evaluate the safety, efficacy and procedural difficulties of intraoperative autologous blood transfusion during laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy. Design A retrospective study was performed. Methods The Cell Saver, an intraoperative autologous blood salvage device, was used in laparoscopic operations on 13 patients with ectopic pregnancy, who had haemoperitoneum but good physical status without severe anaemia and hypovolaemic shock. Results Homologous blood transfusion was not needed in any patient. The mean blood loss was 327±178 ml and the mean volume of reinfused processed blood was 288±92 ml. The haemoglobin level of reinfused processed blood was proportional to the blood loss. Neither adverse reactions to norprocedural difficulties of autotransfusion were observed. Conclusions When laparoscopic surgery is performed for ectopic pregnancy in patients with haemoperitoneum, intraoperative autologous transfusion employing the Cell Saver is considered to be a potentially very useful technique.