title: [The demand for blood in open-heart surgery (author's transl)].
abstract: Because of the continous increase of utilization of open heart surgery, whenever possible a more conservative use of blood is desirable. During 1977, 262 consecutive patients were operated upon using the hemodilution technique of cardiopulmonary bypass. Thirtyone operative deaths occurred (11.8%) and were not related to lack of blood administration. Mean hematocrit values were 32.4% two hours after surgery and between 31 and 32.5% in the following postoperative course. Hemoglobin concentration averaged from 9.9 to 10.4 g/100 ml during the first postoperative week. The estimated amount of blood transfused averaged 872 +/- 66 ml (+/- SE) per patient. Sixtyone patients (23%) didn't receive any transfusion. A conservative attitude towards blood administration is justified by transfusion related many risks and by the current shortage of blood.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care
chemical_list: D010952:Plasma Substitutes
vernacular_title: La domanda di sangue in chirurgia cardiaca.