• C S Cinà and G Bruin.
• Department of Surgery, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Ontario, Canada.
• J Cardiovasc Surg. 1999 Feb 1; 40 (1): 37-43.

ObjectiveTo assess whether a modified technique of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) reduces the utilization of blood products and donor exposures, and/or improves hemostasis in surgery of the thoracoabdominal aorta.MethodsExperimental Designcohort study comparing fifteen control patients and seven treated with the adjunct of ANH. Mean follow-up 23 (SD=15.4) months.Settingcommunity hospital acting as a referral centre for vascular diseases. Patients' selection: Thirty patients between 1990 and 1995 were entered into the study, eight were excluded because of rupture.Interventionsthe ANH technique used the withdrawal of up to 3000 ml blood during the time between induction of anesthesia and clamping of the thoracic aorta. Colloids were preferentially used for replacement together with up to three units of packed red blood cells (PRC). The autologous blood was retransfused during the final phases of the procedure.MeasuresParameters measured included pre- and postoperative PTT, INR, and platelets; the quantity of stored blood products and total donor exposures.ResultsBlood losses, PRC transfused, and postoperative hemoglobin concentration were not statistically different in the two groups. Repeated measures Analysis of variance on coagulation parameters showed lower PTT values (F1,20=4.2, p=0.05) and higher platelet concentration (F1,20=8.2, p=0.01) after surgery in the ANH group. In the latter, the reduction in fresh frozen plasma (FFP) utilization did not reach statistical significance (T19.5=1.79, p=0.08). This group, however, required fewer transfusions of platelets (T20=4.27, p=0.0004), and cryoprecipitate (T20=2.52, p=0.02), and no coagulation adjuncts (dDAVP, epsilon-aminocaproic acid), (Fisher's test=0.04). Total donor exposures was also significantly lower in the ANH group (T20=3.28, p=0.003).ConclusionsThe ANH technique reduces homologous transfusions and donor exposures, and has a beneficial effect on hemostasis. Moreover, the technique may be useful in the management of cross clamping hypertension.

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