The use of autologous blood transfusions in pediatric orthopaedic surgery.

This study reviews the medical records of 29 patients that were submitted to 29 spinal fusion procedures with the purpose to evaluates the efficacy of using predeposited autologous blood transfusions to replace operative blood loss. The patients age ranged from 8 to 25 years. Each patient was started on oral iron supplement as soon as surgery was scheduled. The phlebotomies were performed at the American Red Cross Blood Services Puerto Rico Chapter. Blood was drawn 1 unit every 6 days if the hematocrit was above 34%. The last phlebotomy was performed at least 7 days before surgery. The average amount of blood donated was 3.17 units (1,427 ml). The whole blood was stored using the adenine saline solution (ADSOL) as preservative for as long as 35 days. The average preoperative hematocrit value was 35%. In 89% of the cases only autologous blood was transfused. In the rest of the cases family donated homologous blood was required. The use of pre deposited autologous blood for replacement of operative blood loss has proven to be a safe, easy and well accepted method for the pediatric age patients. It also reduced the need for homologous blood and helps to increase the blood reserve at banks.