NoBlood

Nika · #1 (**permalink**) 05-08-2005, 06:58 PM

Source:
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001 Aug;20(2):233-8.

Full Text Article Link (Subscription Required):
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...6fe15a165d168b

Usefulness of vacuum-assisted cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for pediatric open-heart surgery in reducing homologous blood transfusion.

Nakanishi K, Shichijo T, Shinkawa Y, Takeuchi S, Nakai M, Kato G, Oba O.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hiroshima City Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan. koji_15@sannet.ne.jp

OBJECTIVE: Open-heart surgery without homologous blood transfusion is still difficult in children because priming volume in cardiopulmonary bypass circuit results in extreme hemodilution. Vacuum-assisted cardiopulmonary bypass circuit has the benefit of improving venous return and results in lowering priming volume. We introduced vacuum-assisted cardiopulmonary bypass circuit in order to reduce priming volume for pediatric patients in March 1995. A retrospective study was made on the efficacy of vacuum-assisted circuit for pediatric open-heart surgery in reducing homologous blood transfusion. METHODS: Patients weighing from 5 to 20 kg who underwent surgery between January 1991 and June 1996 were divided into two groups, group A comprised 128 patients before introduction of this circuit and group B comprised 49 patients after introduction, and their clinical course was compared. Vacuum-assisted circuit was used in 27 patients of group B. RESULTS: The percentage of transfusion-free operations was significantly higher in group B than in group A (33.6% in group A vs. 53.1% in group B, P = 0.014), and particularly this percentage in patients weighing less than 10 kg significantly increased (0% in group A vs. 42.9% in group B, P < 0.01). The amount of homologous blood transfusion was significantly lower in group B than in group A (374 +/- 362 ml in group A and 212 +/- 287 ml in group B, P < 0.01). The rate of complications and the duration of respiratory support did not differ between the two groups. The duration of hospital stay was lower in group B than in group A. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that vacuum-assisted circuit is useful for pediatric open-heart surgery in reducing homologous blood transfusion.

MeSH Terms:

Blood Transfusion
Cardiac Surgical Procedures*
Cardiopulmonary Bypass/methods*
Child, Preschool
Female
Heart Defects, Congenital/surgery*
Humans
Infant
Male
Retrospective Studies
Vacuum

PMID: 11463537 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]