Clinical Experience of Autologous Blood Transfusion in Neurosurgery: Prospective Study in Central India.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits of intraoperative autologous blood transfusion in intracranial procedures and to conserve precious homologous blood due to shortage of donor and associated complications. METHODS: This was a prospective study performed at Bansal Hospital, Bhopal. Predetermined autologous blood was collected in a well-labeled bag containing citrate phosphate dextrose adenine solution after induction of general anesthesia. Then appropriate amount of crystalloid solution was transfused in to the body. All collected autologous blood was transfused back to the patient at the end of the surgery or during the surgery if excessive blood loss occurred. Demographic data, hemodynamic changes (mean arterial pressure, heart rate) before and after donation, complications, and any additional homologous blood requirement were noted. Pre- and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit values were compared. RESULTS: In total, 32 patients were included in this study. In our study, mean age was 48.87 years; male-to-female ratio was 1:1.4. The mean amount of autologous blood collected was 461 mL, and the mean amount of blood loss during surgery was 1048 mL. In our study, there was no statistically significant difference was found in mean arterial pressure and heart rate before and after autologous blood collection (P > 0.05). When we compared pre- and postoperative mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, there was a statistically significant difference present (P < 0.05); this was due to the fact that many patients had meningiomas (15 of 32). Additional homologous blood was required only in 25% of cases (8/32). Of 8 patients, 5 were again cases of deep-seated meningiomas. No complications were observed during or after autologous blood collection. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous blood transfusion is a safe, effective, and affordable method of blood transfusion in patients undergoing intracranial surgery. Complications associated with homologous blood transfusion can be avoided with autologous blood transfusion.

The use of blood cell salvage in acetabular fracture internal fixation surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if the routine use of intraoperative blood cell salvage in acetabular fracture internal fixation reduces the need for allogenic blood transfusion, is cost effective, and whether it is influenced by the acetabular fracture pattern. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary pelvic and acetabular reconstructive center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing internal fixation for acetabular fractures. RESULTS: Eighty consecutive patients were reviewed, comprising 26 elementary fracture (EF) and 54 associated fracture (AF) types. The mean volume of autologous blood transfused was 484 mL. The mean volume of 561 mL of autologous blood transfused in patients with AF types was significantly greater than the mean volume of 325 mL transfused in the EF group (P = 0.007). Additional allogenic blood transfusion was required in 5 (19%) patients with EFs and 15 (28%) patients with AFs (P = 0.418). The mean cost of the blood cell salvage and additional blood products in our study was $223 (£135) for all fracture types ($174/£105 for EF and $246/£149 for AF).When treating AF types, the mean cost of using blood cell salvage was $246 (£149) as compared with the mean predicted cost of not using blood cell salvage and transfusing the equivalent of 1.7 units of allogenic blood instead, which was $463 (£281). These distributions are significantly different (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The use of blood cell salvage for internal fixation surgery for acetabular fracture is cost effective, particularly when treating AF types, and its routine use is advocated to limit the need for allogenic blood transfusion.

Clinical and cost effectiveness-related aspects of retransfusion in total hip and knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: An increasing demand for blood products forces the rationalisation of management and conservation of blood. The aim of the study is to evaluate the possibility of retransfusion of blood conservation and the cost-effectiveness of this procedure when employed in Total Hip Replacement and Total Knee Arthroplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study involved two groups of patients. Group I comprised 50 patients who underwent blood retransfusion and in several cases had supplementary allogeneic transfusion. Group II, a control group, consisted of 50 patients who did not receive retransfusion. RESULTS: The retransfusion in Group I enabled the recovery of a mean amount of 364.5 ml (± 52.7) of blood in THR patients and 403.8 ml (± 110.7) in TKA patients. Demand for allogeneic blood transfusions in Group I versus Group II was 46% lower in THR patients and 42% lower in TKA patients. The blood recovered for retransfusion is biologically valuable with regard to cellular elements and plasma chemistries. In the costs evaluation, the total savings in Group I were 5,000 PLN. CONCLUSION: Retransfusion of recuperated blood from postoperative drainage tubing is a simple and safe method that provides clinical and cost-effectiveness advantages.

The Cell Saver in adult lumbar fusion surgery: a cost-benefit outcomes study.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of efficacy of Cell Saver in a nonrandomized group of patients undergoing lumbar fusion. OBJECTIVES: Determine the necessity and cost-effectiveness of the use of Cell Saver for adult lumbar spine fusions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Specific indications for the use of Cell Saver in adult lumbar fusion surgery have not been clearly determined. In addition to effectiveness in blood replacement, the economic benefits of the Cell Saver have not been evaluated. METHODS: A total of 102 consecutive cases of posterolateral fusion with internal fixation were reviewed retrospectively. There were 56 patients in the Cell Saver group and 46 patients in the control group. Recorded hospital medical and financial data were analyzed for each patient. RESULTS: There was a 38% recovery rate of blood using the Cell Saver. This resulted in a decreased need for postoperative transfusion in the study group (1 U to 36% of patients) relative to the control group (1 U to 50% of patients). Significant predictors for surgery time were the number of levels fused (P < 0.0001), patient's weight (P = 0.0030), and use of Cell Saver (P = 0.0472). Significant indicators of blood loss were the number of levels fused (P < 0.0001) and surgical time (P = 0.0304). The average cost for blood-related charges in the Cell Saver group was 512 dollars versus 270 dollars per patient in the control group. CONCLUSIONS.: While the Cell Saver group did require fewer postoperative transfusions, the difference was not as much as expected. In elective fusions for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine, blood requirements can usually be satisfied with predonation of autologous blood. With contemporary practices of predonation, the use of the Cell Saver appears to be neither necessary nor cost-effective during most elective lumbar fusions.

Economic evaluation of a randomized clinical trial of haemodilution with cell salvage in aortic surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the costs of acute normovolaemic haemodilution (ANH) and intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) versus homologous blood transfusion in aortic surgery in a prospective multicentre randomized trial. METHODS: One hundred and forty-five patients were randomized either to standard transfusion practice (homologous) or to a combination of ANH and ICS (autologous). Costs for each inpatient admission were identified. Cell salvage costs were assigned on the assumption that 50 operations were done each year employing a trained cell salvage operator. The results were analysed statistically using bias-corrected bootstrap analysis. RESULTS: Patients who had transfusion of homologous blood received some 251 units and those having a homologous transfusion received 103 units (P = 0.008). There was no difference in morbidity, mortality and duration of hospital stay. Transfusion-related mean costs were similar at 340 UK pounds for patients having a homologous transfusion and 357 UK pounds for those receiving autologous blood (mean difference 17 UK pounds (95 per cent confidence interval [c.i.]--184 UK pounds to 174 UK pounds); P not significant). There was also no significant difference in mean overall costs: 5859 UK pounds for homologous and 5384 UK pounds for autologous transfusion (mean difference--475 UK pounds (95 per cent c.i.--2231 UK pounds to 1342 UK pounds)). Sensitivity analysis showed that costs remained similar for 20 and 150 operations per annum. Exclusion of a dedicated cell salvage operator reduced autologous transfusion costs but did not have a significant impact on overall cost. CONCLUSION: Autologous transfusion is cost neutral in aortic surgery even when surgical activity is low.

Intraoperative autotransfusion in hip arthroplasty.

Two groups of patients having primary or revision total hip replacement were studied during a period of 11 months. The first group of 40 consecutive patients consented to have whole blood collected coincident with acute normovolemic hemodilution. An inventory of autologous red blood cells, plasma, and platelets was prepared in the operating room as a preliminary to surgery. Subsequently, the same supplies and equipment were used for autotransfusion intraoperatively. In a case-control study, another 40 patients having total hip replacements were matched for age, gender, and weight. The second group of patients refused hemodilution and received autotransfusion alone. The perioperative transfusion requirements of the two groups were compared. The total blood product donor exposure rate of the first group was 1/4 of the controls (0.6 and 2.4 donor units per patient, respectively). The average length of stay in the hospital after surgery for the first group was shortened significantly (6.2 versus 8.4 days), possibly from less immunogenic insult associated with increased transfusions of autologous blood products. Hemodilution, followed by autotransfusion, was cost effective in primary and revision total hip replacements, autotransfusion alone was cost effective only in revision arthroplasty.

Intraoperative autologous transfusion during elective infrarenal aortic reconstruction: a decision analysis model.

PURPOSE: The use of intraoperative autologous transfusion devices expanded during the last decade as a result of the increased awareness of transfusion-associated complications. This study was designed to determine whether routine use of an intraoperative autologous transfusion device (Haemonetics Cell Saver [CS]) during elective infrarenal aortic reconstructions is cost-effective ($50,000/QALYs threshold). METHODS: A decision analysis tree was constructed to model all of the complications that are associated with red blood cell replacement during aortic reconstructions for both abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). It was assumed that a unit of CS return (CSR; 250 ml/unit) equaled a unit of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and that all CS transfusions were necessary. Transfusion requirements (AAA:PRBC = 2.8 +/- 3.2 units, CSB = 3.7 +/- 3.2 units; AIOD:PRBC = 3.1 +/- 3.0 units, CSR = 2.1 +/- 1.7 units) were determined from retrospective review of all elective aortic reconstructions (AAA, N = 63; AIOD, N = 75) from Jan. 1991 to June 1995 in which the CS was used (82.1% of all reconstructions). Risk of allogenic transfusion-related complications (transfusion reaction, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I and II) and their associated treatment costs (expressed in dollars and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were obtained from the medical literature, institutional audit, and a consensus of physicians. RESULTS: Routine use of the CS during elective infrarenal aortic reconstructions was not cost-effective in our practice. Use during reconstructions for AAA repairs cost $263.75 but added only 0.00218 QALYs, for a rate of $120,794/QALY. Use during reconstructions for AIOD was even more costly at $356.68 and provided even less benefit at 0.00062 QALYs, for a rate of $578,275/QALY. The sensitivity analyses determined that the routine use of the CS would be cost-effective in our practice only for AAA repairs if the incidence of hepatitis C were tenfold greater than the baseline assumption. The model determined that CS was cost-effective if the CSR exceed 5 units during reconstructions for AAA and 6 units during reconstructions for AIOD. CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of the CS during elective infrarenal aortic reconstructions is not cost-effective. The use of the device should be reserved for a select group of aortic reconstructions, including those in which cost-effective salvage volumes are anticipated. Alternatively, the CS should be used as a reservoir and activated as a salvage device if significant bleeding is encountered.

Intraoperative autologous blood transfusion in intracranial surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of intraoperative autotransfusion of autologous blood on the conservation of allogenic blood, including cost-effectiveness and the consequences for hemoglobin level and coagulation tests. METHODS: The Hoemonetics Cell Saver 4 autotransfusion system (Hoemonetics Corporation, MA) was used when the estimated blood loss was equal to or more than 500 ml. A total of 472 patients undergoing intracranial surgery were included in the study. RESULTS: Ninety patients (19%) received transfusions either with autologous blood or allogenic blood. Fifty-five patients (61%) received only autologous blood transfusions, 10 patients (11%) received both autologous and allogenic blood transfusions, and 25 patients (28%) received only allogenic blood transfusions. The amount of autologous blood transfused was 600 +/- 590 ml (range, 230-3000 ml). The amount of allogenic blood transfused was 3 +/- 3 units (range, 2-15 units). Autologous blood represented 68% of all blood products transfused. Mild abnormalities during coagulation tests occurred without clinical bleeding. CONCLUSION: Autologous blood transfusions were demonstrated to be safe in patients undergoing intracranial surgery and to be more cost-effective than allogenic blood transfusions. Intraoperative autologous blood transfusions may be used alone in more than half of the patients requiring transfusions during intracranial surgery and decrease the amount of allogenic blood used. Improvements in the monitoring for the need of performing this technique, as well as preoperative blood donations, would decrease the amount of allogenic blood transfused.

Intraoperative autologous transfusion during elective infrarenal aortic reconstruction.

Intraoperative autologous transfusion devices have been purported to reduce allogenic transfusions and their associated complications. However, the value of their routine use during elective cardiovascular operations remains undefined. This study was designed to examine the efficacy of the Haemonetics Cell Saver (CS) during elective aortic reconstructions and identify predictors of clinically significant (> or = 500 cc) and cost-efficient (> or = 1250 cc) salvage volumes. The medical records of all patients undergoing elective infrarenal aortic reconstructions between January 1991 and June 1995 were retrospectively reviewed to determine blood loss, CS return, predictors of clinically significant/ cost-efficient CS returns, blood products transfused, and estimated cost per unit CS return. The CS was used for 138 (82.1%) of all reconstructions during the study period. Estimated blood loss (2127 +/- 1467 vs 1415 +/- 1047) and CS return (927 +/- 790 vs 515 +/- 408) were significantly greater in patients with aneurysms (AAA, N = 63) compared to those with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD, N = 75). CS returns > or = 500 cc were common (79.4% AAA, 52.0% AIOD) and predictors of > or = 500 cc CS returns were large aneurysms (6.79 +/- 1.84 vs 5.72 +/- 0.71 cm) and male sex (82.0 vs 46.2%) in AAA patients and lower preoperative platelet counts (262 +/- 93 vs 311 +/- 113 K/mm3), concomitant renal revascularizations (20.5 vs 0%), and prolonged operative time (7.9 +/- 2.4 vs 6.9 +/- 2.1 hr) in AIOD patients. In contrast, CS returns > or = 1250 cc were relatively uncommon (28.6% AAA, 5.3% AIOD), and predictors of these CS returns were found only for AAA patients and included any concomitant vascular procedures (38.8 vs 15.6%) and the need for suprarenal aortic clamping (27.8 vs 6.7%). Despite the use of the CS, 73.8% of all patients required allogenic packed red blood cells with a mean of 3.0 +/- 3.1 units transfused in the perioperative period; no difference was seen between AAA and AIOD patients. The calculated cost for a unit of CS return was +128.77 for the AAA patients and +231.91 for the AIOD patients. Not using the CS and substituting the return with allogenic packed red blood cells would have saved +252.80 and +352.84 for the AAA and AIOD patients, respectively. Routine use of the CS during elective infrarenal aortic reconstructions is not cost efficient and should be abandoned. Use of the device should be reserved only for complex reconstruction.

Blood conservation in major orthopedic surgery.

During an eight-year period, intraoperative autotransfusion was performed in 1922 operations. There were 476 primary hip arthroplasties, 1017 revision hip arthroplasties, 339 spinal procedures, and 90 vascular cases. There were no known complications related to autotransfusion in any of the cases. With proper technique, red cell salvage is approximately 58% effective, and intraoperative blood loss can be reduced by that amount. The first four years' experience with the preoperative autogeneic blood program is as follows. Using a combined program of predonation and primary hip arthroplasty, 72% of the revision hip arthroplasties and 81% of the spinal instrumentations required only autologous blood. A combined program of autologous donation and intraoperative autotransfusion is an excellent alternative to allogeneic blood replacement and a means of eliminating transfusion-related disease.