[Peroperative use of Cell Saver in elective surgery on the abdominal aorta]

In order to determine the impact of intraoperative autotransfusion on vascular surgical care, data related to 200 abdominal aortic surgical operations performed over a 20 months period were prospectively analysed. Volumes of blood salvaged and transfused during and after each operation were considered. One hundred and twenty one patients had an intraoperative autologous transfusion at a mean volume of 616 +/- 410 ml. Among them, 36 patients (43%) had only their own autotransfused blood and no other homologous blood components were required. Rapid autotransfusion was associated neither with significant haemolysis, nor with coagulopathy. Neither mortality nor morbidity was related to intraoperative autotransfusion. These data suggest that intraoperative autotransfusion is a safe replacement method in major vascular surgery. The procedure should be used in conjunction with preoperative donations when feasible.