title: Advantages of autologous blood transfusion in off-pump coronary artery bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this randomized controlled study, we investigated the effects of autologous Hemobag blood transfusion (AHBT) and allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) in off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients who underwent surgery between February 2008 and August 2008 were randomized into 2 groups. The AHBT group (n = 30) consisted of patients who received autologous Hemobag blood transfusion, and the ABT group (n = 30) consisted of patients who received allogenic blood transfusion. All patients underwent OPCAB via sternotomy. The time to extubation, chest tube drainage volume, postoperative white blood cell counts, amount of blood transfusion, sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein concentration, postoperative temperature, and the presence of atelectasis were recorded in the intensive care unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraoperative bleeding and fluid resuscitation were similar in the 2 groups (P > .05); however, there were significant decreases in postoperative blood loss, extubation period, postoperative white cell counts, sedimentation rate, incidence of atelectasis, C-reactive protein, and fever in the AHBT group compared with the ABT group (P < .05). The rate of atrial fibrillation in the AHBT group tended to be lower than in the ABT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous blood transfusion in OPCAB may be beneficial in certain cardiac surgery patients; however, these beneficial effects require further study to be proved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. yukselela@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yuksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ela
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emmiler
authors.forename: Cevdet Ugur
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Kocogullari
authors.forename: Yuksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.forename: Remziye Gul
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Sivaci
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cekirdekci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood*; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein