Autologous blood transfusions in children and young adults with low body weight undergoing spinal surgery.
The perioperative course of 118 patients weighing less than 45.5 kg (100.1 pounds) who participated in a predeposited autologous blood program from 1979-1984 is reviewed. Average age was 13 years 11 months (range 6 years 4 months to 20 years 4 months) and the average weight, 41 kg (range 30-45.4 kg). All underwent spinal surgery, 96% for scoliosis. The program involved preoperative donation of blood that was stored and subsequently retransfused to replace operative blood losses. Patients donated an average of 811 ml (range 208-1,320 ml) blood. Operation and hospitalization were completed by 63% without receiving any homologous blood, and the need for donor blood was reduced in the remaining 37%. Preoperative blood donation and retransfusion led to no significant complications. We describe an autologous blood transfusion program and show that autotransfusion is a safe and preferred method of blood replacement for children and young adults with low body weight undergoing elective surgery.
MacEwen
G D
GD
Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, DE 19899.
Bennett
E
E
Guille
J T
JT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D001815:Bloodletting; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate