[Reducing the need in donor blood in reconstructive surgery of the aorta: using a Cell Saver apparatus]

The possibility of using a Cell Saver "Sequestra 1000" apparatus (Medtronics) for reducing the need for donor blood in reconstructive surgery for aortic aneurism was evaluated within the case study. Thirty-seven patients, who were made different reconstructive procedures on the ascending and abdominal aorta, were examined. Twelve patients with aneurism in the ascending aorta section (AAS) and with insufficiency of the aortal valve were made prosthesis of AAS and aortal valve under extracorporeal circulation (AEC). Twenty-five patients, who were operated on the abdominal aorta section, were resected aneurysm with linear prosthesis (9), aorto-hip bifurcational alloprosthesis (15) and branching of arterio-venous fistula (1). Five patients with aneurysm in the abdominal aorta, including 3 cases of aneurysm rupture, were operated on the emergency basis. The use of a Sequestra 1000 (Medtronics) apparatus based on the Cell Saver technology aorta reconstructions cut essentially the need in donor packed red blood cells at the intraoperative (3.6 times) and postoperative (2.8 times) stages.