Facilitation of exchange transfusions with Scribner shunts in Reye's syndrome

Scribner shunts were placed in nine patients, who had clinical and laboratory evidence of Reye's syndrome and ranged in age from four to fifteen years, to facilitate repeated, rapid exchanges of large volumes of blood. A method of inserting the Scribner shunt is described. Over a period of 30 to 90 minutes, 3 to 8 units of blood were easily exchanged without hemodynamic or mechanical difficulties. There were no infections; all shunts were removed from survivors after four to eight days without permanent sequelae.