[Use of autologous blood, plasma and thrombocyte concentrates in heart surgery].

BACKGROUND

The objective of the work was to assess whether autologous platelets will reduce haemorrhage after cardiac operations and the need of blood transfusions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From 34 patients in the course of 3 - 4 weeks before operation apheretically on average 935 ml fresh frozen plasma (FFP) were taken and two transfusion units (TU) of whole blood. In group A (13 patients, 9 men and 4 women, aged 53 +/- 12 years) the blood losses during 24 hours after operation amounted to 982 +/- 589 ml and the total losses were 1,129 +/- 787 ml. It was necessary to administer 1.9 +/- 1.5 TU of homologous red cell concentrates and 5.0 +/- 2.9 TU of homologous FFP. Three patients (23%) did not need any homologous red cell concentrates and 2 (15%) did not need homologous FFP. In group B (21 patients, 14 men and 7 women, aged 55 +/- 14 years), there moreover one or two days before operation apheretically 2.6 +/- 0.5 x 10(11) platelets were withdrawn and 420 ml FFP, the blood losses within 24 hours were 581 +/- 201 ml and the total losses 635 +/- 220 ml. It was necessary to administer 0.9 +/- 1.3 TU homologous red cell mass and 2.2 +/- 2.1 TU homologous FFP. Eleven patients (52%) did not need a transfusion of homologous red cell concentrates and 9 (43%) did not need homologous FFP. The differences in blood losses and transfusions of homologous preparations between groups ar statistically significant (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of autologous platelets reduces significantly blood losses and the need of transfusions of homologous preparations during operations on the heart.