[Cardiac surgery in Jehovah's witnesses. Apropos of 47 cases].

47 cardiac defects in Jehova's witnesses were operated on without using any blood during the operation. In 9 cases the patients were under 15 years of age. 7 cases were of congenital heart defects in which the operation could be carried out with the heart still beating or by a closed heart technique: 4 of these were adults and 3 were children. In 40 cases, extracorporeal circulation was required: 19 valve defects, 8 coronary areterial cases, 10 congenital cardiac lesions, 2 valve defects associated with coronary artery disease, and 1 aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. Of these 40 patients, 4 died. The details and limits of this total haemodilution are analysed, as are the causes of failure and complications. This technique does not worsen the postoperative prognosis appreciably, but limits the scope of the surgery, and cannot be applied to a child of less than 10 kg.