[Autotransfusion in aneurysm surgery].

In a group of selected 65 patients undergoing replacement of the thoraco-abdominal (TAA = 16) or abdominal (AAA = 49) aorta for large aneurysms intraoperative autotransfusion with the cell saver was used to salvage the patients' blood. The mean volumes of retransfused red blood cells were 1.21 (AAA) and 3.61 (TAA) respectively. Mean values for heparin, protein and hemolysis within the last sample of the autotransfused blood were 0.16 IU/ml, 1.24 g/l and 89.5 mumol/l respectively. T1/2 using chrom51 was 21 days. Our results confirm that intraoperative autotransfusion is a valuable and save adjunct in major vascular surgery.