A prospective trial of acute normovolemic hemodilution in patients undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to determine the safety and efficacy of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) to reduce the requirement for allogenic red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in patients undergoing primary cytoreduction for advanced ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Patients undergoing primary cytoreduction for advanced ovarian cancer were enrolled in a prospective trial assessing ANH at time of surgery. Intraoperative blood withdrawal was performed to a target hemoglobin of 8.0 g/dL. A standardized transfusion protocol first using autologous then allogenic blood was applied intraoperatively and throughout hospitalization according to institutional guidelines. The primary endpoint was to determine the overall rate of allogenic RBC transfusions in the intra- and postoperative periods. A predetermined allogenic RBC transfusion rate <35% was deemed a meaningful reduction from a 50% transfusion rate in historical controls.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients consented to participate. Median blood withdrawn during ANH was 1650 mL (range, 700-3000). Cytoreductive outcomes were as follows: 0 mm, 30 (73%); 1-10 mm, 8 (20%); and >10 mm, 3 (7%) residual disease. Estimated blood loss was 1000 mL (range, 150-2700). Fourteen patients (34%) received allogenic RBC transfusions intra- or postoperatively, meeting the primary endpoint. No patients were transfused outside protocol guidelines. The rate of ≥grade 3 complications (20%) and anastomotic leaks (7%) were similar to historical controls and met predefined safety thresholds.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery, ANH appears to reduce allogenic RBC transfusion rates versus historical controls without increasing perioperative complications. Further evaluation of the technique is warranted.