[Blood reinfusion in stab-incision heart injuries]

The authors had 110 patients with heart injuries (HI) under observation. The blood loss was, 1,092 +/- 120 ml in isolated HI and 2,410 +/- 246 ml in combined HI. Blood reinfusion (BR) was performed during 91 operations, the average volume was 1,233 +/- 215 ml. The peculiarities of reinfusion techniques are analysed and its advantages and shortcomings are critically appraised. The causes of fatal outcomes are shown according to the character of the heart damage and the volumes of blood loss and reinfusion. Mortality in HI with the use of BR was 16.5%.