[Open-heart surgery without the use of donor blood]

Blood transfusions were not performed intra- or postoperatively in 10 patients operated on for acquired heart valve defects under perfusion-free hypothermia (PFH). The otherwise favourable postoperative period was characterized by a moderate decrease in hemoglobin level and red blood cell count. No complications have been observed. It has been concluded that the volume of the blood transfused can be considerably reduced or in some cases there can be no transfusions at all during surgery under PFH.