title: Autotransfusion with laparoscopically salvaged blood in trauma: report on 21 cases.
abstract: Autotransfusion is being increasingly used to avoid the complications of homologous blood transfusion. In abdominal trauma, however, the collected blood may be contaminated by intestinal contents when digestive or urinary lesions are present. In such situations, the reinfusion of blood is contraindicated. We present our experience with autotransfusion of blood collected by laparoscopy from the abdominal cavity of 21 trauma patients. Laparoscopy allowed the aspiration of blood and, at the same time, permitted diagnosis of visceral lesions, avoiding reinfusion of contaminated blood. No complications occurred, and hematocrit values were significantly elevated. This procedure may represent the only possible method of blood transfusion in Jehovah's Witnesses, as with one patient in our series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zantut
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Poggetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birolini
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate