Transfus Apher Sci
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Comparative Study
Results of a preoperative autologous blood donation program for patients undergoing elective major spine surgery.
Spinal surgery has been shown to have a high blood transfusion requirement. Preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) is a strategy to reduce the allogeneic transfusions in this subset of patients. ⋯ The preoperative autologous blood donation program designed in our hospital was effective for reducing allogeneic transfusion in mostly young patients under major elective spinal surgery. However and as expected, their inclusion in the program increased the risk to be transfused.
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We report a case of refractory heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HITT) with prolonged thrombocytopenia and multiple thrombotic complications that failed to improve despite aggressive treatment. A 60 year old female with a prior history of venous thromboembolism was admitted with an acute pulmonary embolism, and developed HITT after several days on heparin therapy. ⋯ She eventually required bilateral limb amputation, and only after removal of the gangrenous limbs did her platelet count show sustained improvement. We discuss the possible contribution of infection to her prolonged course.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effects of non-leukoreduced red blood cell transfusions on microcirculation in mixed surgical patients.
The impact of the storage process on oxygen-carrying properties of red blood cells and the efficacy of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions concerning tissue oxygenation remain an issue of debate in transfusion medicine. Storage time and leukocyte content probably interact since longer storage duration is thought to cause greater accumulation of leukocyte-derived cytokines and red blood cell injury. ⋯ Fresh non-leukoreduced RBC transfusions but not RBCs stored for more than 3weeks, were effective in improving microciruculatory perfusion by elevating the number of perfused microvessels in mixed surgical patients.
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Therapeutic plasma exchange is established treatment for patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and for refractory cases immunosuppressive therapy can also be considered. We present a refractory case of TTP which was managed with therapeutic plasma exchange and rituximab.