[Effect of autologous platelet rich plasma on adult open heart surgery]

To reduce the rate and the volume of homologous blood transfusion, we have used autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) in adult open heart surgery. From Jan. 1988 to Jun 1992, 191 patients have underwent open heart surgery of coronary artery disease or valvular heart disease in our institution. We divided these patients into two groups: (1) PRP group; autologous PRP was used in 99 cases, (2) C (Control) group; autologous PRP was not used in 92 cases. Patient characteristics of age, sex, body weight, preoperative hematocrit values, preoperative platelet counts, and CPB time were same in these groups. Intraoperative and postoperative blood loss in PRP group were significantly less than those in C group (376 ml and 458 ml vs 511 ml and 568 ml; p < 0.01). Homologous blood transfusion rate (number of patients receiving homologous blood transfusion/all patients) was lower in PRP group (11.1% vs 32.6%; p < 0.01). The volume of homologous blood transfusion in the patients receiving transfusion were smaller in PRP group (7.5 U vs 13.3 U; p < 0.05). We conclude autologous PRP is useful in adult open heart surgery to reduce the perioperative blood loss, the rate, and the volume of homologous blood transfusion.