Autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood after open heart operation

This prospective study was designed to determine whether the autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood (ATS) after open heart surgery is safe and effective. Forty-two patients undergoing cardiac operation were randomized to receive either nonwashed shed mediastinal blood (group 1; n = 22) or banked blood (group 2: n = 20). No difference in mean age (group 1: 49 +/- 11 years; group 2: 45 +/- 12 years), coronary artery bypass grafting (group 1: n = 5, 23%; group 2: n = 6, 30%), valve replacement (group 1: n = 17, 77%, group 2: n = 14, 70%), and mean preoperative hemoglobin level (group 1: 13.7 +/- 2.3, group 2: 14.4 +/- 1.6) was noted between non-ATS and ATS groups (p = not significant). The mean hemoglobin levels after operation were similar in the two groups (group 1: 11.89 +/- 1.52; group 2: 12.03 +/- 1.34). No difference in the mean blood loss 4, 6 and 24 hours after operation (group 1: 33 +/- 190, 420 +/- 340 and 550 +/- 300; group 2: 340 +/- 230, 420 +/- 280 and 670 +/- 380) was observed between the two groups. The mean volume autotransfused in group I was 380 +/- 230 ml (200 approximately 1300 ml). In group I, the patients required bank blood 1080 +/- 720, compared with 1780 +/- 1045 in group II. The bank blood requirement in group I reducted by 40%. These data demonstrate that ATS after open heart surgery is safe and effective.