RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of washed autologous blood transfusion on the recovery and hemolysis of erythrocytes from diabetic patients subjected to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OP-CABG). METHODS: A total of Sixty patients were included in this study. The patients were assigned as two groups:control (C, n = 30) , and diabetic group (D, n = 30). Samples were taken from preoperation, prior to and after disposal of centrifuging and washing to determine the recovery and fragility of erythrocytes. Free hemoglobin and extracellular potassium were measured at 0, 4, 6, 12, 24 h after washing. RESULTS: The erythrocytic recovery did not have significant difference between two groups (C group 82.6% ± 5.6%,D group 80.9% ± 6.2%, P > 0.05) .Under the same processing, the erythrocyte fragility in the diabetic group were significantly higher than the control group in preoperation and before washing (Preoperation 0.36%: D group 84.9% ± 6.7% C group 78.7% ± 4.6%, P = 0.003; Preoperation 0.68%: D group 9.0% ± 4.5% C group 1.9% ± 0.8%, P = 0.000; Before washing 0.36%: D group 80.6% ± 4.9% C group 78.0% ± 5.8%, P = 0.000; Before washing 0.68%: D group 11.0% ± 3.4% C group 2.4% ± 0.9%, P = 0.000). However, after washing there were no significant differences of erythrocyte fragility between groups. Free hemoglobin and blood potassium at 4, 6, 12, 24 h after washing were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in a time-dependent manner in the two groups. But there was no obvious difference in the interior-group at the same time point. CONCLUSIONS: Autotransfusion has no significant extra damage on erythrocytes from diabetic patients undergoing OP-CABG, and the salvaged blood should be transfused as soon as possible to reduce hemolysis.