Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is accepted to be the easiest and most economical method of autotransfusion. This study was performed to investigate the clinical usefulness of ANH in patients undergoing off-pump CABG.
MethodsThirty patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the ANH group, 753.3 ± 51.6 ml of fresh autologous whole blood were sequestrated from a pulmonary artery catheter following induction of anesthesia with simultaneous infusion of colloids and crystalloid solution from a separate line. Perioperative changes of hemoglobin, hematocrit level, platelet counts, prothrombin time, cardiac output, transfusion requirement and the amount of postoperative drainage were compared between the two groups.
ResultsPerioperative changes of platelet counts and PT showed no significant differences between the two groups. Less allogenic blood was used in the ANH group (0.27 ± 0.46 unit) than in the control group (1.27 ± 0.80 unit) in the operation room.
ConclusionsANH can decrease the transfusion requirement in off-pump CABG.