AUTOTRANSFUSION USING LEAP-FROG TECHNIQUE IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY HEART-DISEASE AND PLANNED AORTOCORONARY VENOUS BYPASS

Objective: The goal of the study is to test and control the quality of a special leapfrog technique which enables saving heterologous blood. Design: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study homolog ous blood was taken in 40 out of 100 patients with coronary heart dise ase before aortocoronary bypass operation. The leap-frog technique was used. Within 8 weeks 3-4 erythrocyte concentrates and 0.9-1.2 liters plasma were sampled. The volume (verum: HES200/0.510%; placebo: 0.9% N aCl solution) substituted corresponded to the volume of blood donated. Each patient recieved 200 mg Fe2+/day p.o. Results: Clinically, only patients treated with HES in stage of autologous blood sampling benefi ted significantly. Two patients showed adverse effects. The peri- and postoperative course was comparable. In the NaCl group one of the pati ents received homologous erythrocyte concentrates. None of the patient s died pre-, peri- or postoperatively. Conclusions: 40% of the cardios urgical patients could be considered for autologous blood donation. Is ovolemic hemodilution with HES 200/0.5 10% was a suitable and safe mea sure in preoperative blood sampling. Physical exercise should be perfo rmed before and after autologous blood donation. A reduced exercise to lerance suggests that autologous blood donation should be stopped.