title: Perioperative blood conservation.
abstract: This review examines the science and methodology of blood conservation in modern anaesthetic and surgical practice. Blood transfusion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in all surgical patients, and the reduction or even elimination of transfusion has been and continues to be the subject of much research. Blood substitutes, despite extensive investigation, have not been proved successful in trials to date, and none have entered clinical practice. Pharmacological treatments include antifibrinolytic drugs (although aprotinin is no longer in clinical use), recombinant factor VIIa, desmopressin, erythropoietin and topical haemostatic agents, and the role of each of these is discussed. Autologous blood transfusion has recently fallen in popularity; however, cell salvage is almost ubiquitous in its use throughout Europe. Anaesthetic and surgical techniques may also be refined to improve blood conservation. Blood transfusion guidelines and protocols are strongly recommended, and repetitive audit and education are instrumental in reducing blood transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015942:Factor VIIa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006438:Hemodilution / Q000379:methods*; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D001802:Blood Substitutes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; C103587:recombinant FVIIa; D015942:Factor VIIa; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin