[Plasmapheresis and intraoperative hemodilution. Comparison of 2 methods]

Fifty patients undergoing cardiac surgery suffering from coronary artery disease and valvular incompetence or stenosis, were randomly divided into two groups of 25 patients to compare the plasmapheresis effects on bleeding, transfusion requirements, economicity and paramedical staff compliance versus intraoperative autotransfusion. Standardized anesthetics, perfusion, and surgical techniques were used. We used plasmapheresis with cell saver and haemodilution with bypass ultrafiltration. Platelet counts, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, fibrinogen, bleeding times were evaluated at fixed times for the patients on plasmapheresis and after surgical homologous transfusion. It was that these parameters did not change significantly in the two groups. Intraoperative plasmapheresis is more expensive and less accepted into an operating room than autotransfusion. Intraoperative plasmapheresis will be a good alternative to haemodilution for selected patients.