Autotransfusion in urology: Control study on 59 cases

Abstract

We studied the hematologic and clinical patterns of 59 patients undergoing urologic surgery who entered in a predeposit autologous blood transfusion program and of 59 controls to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the autotransfusional procedure in Urology. 174 units of autologous blood were donated (average 2.94 per pt.) with a high frequency of donation (2.6 days). No side effect or alteration of performance status was reported. We had a dramatic reduction of the need for homologous blood (2.21 units per pt.) without a significant difference of the average hemoglobin concentration between the two groups at discharge from hospital. Autotransfusion has significant advantages compared with conventional transfusion, reducing the complications correlated with homologous blood infusion as also our study demonstrated. Infact 1 post-transfusional hepatitis and 3 complications due to an alteration of coagulation were reported in the control group. The procedure resulted safe and feasible in most urologic operations that require almost two units of blood transfusion.