Management of Bombay Rh negative with clinically significant anti-S for CABG surgery

The Bombay Rh D negative is the rarest of the rare in blood groups. A 65-year-old male patient with coronary artery disease was admitted for CABG. During grouping, forward showed no agglutination in A, B, D, and H, and reverse showed agglutination in A, B, and O cell. The blood group was confirmed as Bombay Rh D negative. Four units of PRBC was requested for the surgery as it was cardiothoracic surgery. We checked our inventory and rare donor list for Bombay-negative blood. Acute normovolemic hemodilution was done for 2 units preoperatively with saline replacement. Autologous platelet apheresis was done for this patient. During routine cross-match, one unit was incompatible. The patient had naturally occurring anti-S, which was reactive at 37°C and clinically significant. A total of 4 PRBC (Packed Red Blood Cell), 1 Single Donor Platelet (SDP), 12 Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), and 9 cryoprecipitate were transfused throughout the hospital stay. The patient was Bombay Rh negative with anti-S with major surgery, which was re-explored twice; the patient was managed successfully in spite of all these difficulties with cooperation from different blood banks from all over India.