ALLOGENEIC VERSUS AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD DURING ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM SURGERY

Objectives: To determine if cell-salvaged autologous blood can serve as an alternative to homologous blood, and to examine the incidence of infected complications and length of postoperative stay. Design: A prospective randomised study comprising autologous and homologous blood transfusions in patients undergoing elective infrarenal abdominal aortic surgery. Methods: Fifty patients undergoing AAA surgery were prospectively randomised to homologous blood ( n =27), or autologous blood transfusion ( n =23), using a cell salvage autotransfusion device. Results: The haemoglobin at the time of hospital discharge was similar for both groups (11.0 vs. 10.8 g/dl) with no difference in perioperative mortality. The length of stay was reduced in those patients who received autologous blood (9 days vs. 12 days, p p =n.s., Fisher's exact probability test). However, patients who received 3–4 units of homologous blood had an increased risk of infection compared to those who received a similar amount of autologous blood (50% vs. 0%). Conclusions: Cell salvage autologous blood can safely replace, or at least decrease, exposure to homologous blood transfusion, with a reduction in the mean hospital stay.