Autotransfusion of the blood drained from mediastinum in the course of myocardial revascularization

To determine if autotransfusion of unwashed shed mediastinal blood led to a reduction in the postoperative banked blood requirements were analyzed in a prospective study 82 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization during 1994 at Cardiovascular Surgery Center of Parma, randomized to receive (ATS) or not (noATS) the system. No differences were noted between two groups in terms of clinical parameters; likewise the operative characteristics were similar for the two groups. The mean 24-hours postoperative blood loss was 719.5 +/- 196 ml in the ATS group and 843 +/- 292 ml in the nonATS group (p = 0.027); the mean volume autotransfused in the ATS group was 416 +/- 167 ml. There were no reoperations for bleeding. In the nonATS group 65.8% of patients required postoperative homologous transfusions compared with 41.5% in the ATS group (p = 0.05). The mean immediate and 24-hour postoperative hemoglobin values were similar in the two groups, but at hospital discharge were 21.1 +/- 1.4 g/dL in the nonATS group and 11.3 +/- 1.4 g/dL in the ATS (p = 0.015). By logistic stepwise multiple analysis were identified as risk factors for banked blood requirement the variables: age, preoperative blood drawing patient, blood drawing before institution of cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative blood loss. Non use of ATS was not a significant incremental risk factor for banked blood requirement, furthermore we think that use of ATS system is a primary blood volume support and confers to reduce homologous transfusions and their related complications after cardiac operations.