INTRAOPERATIVE BLOOD SALVAGE IN ABDOMINAL SIMPLE TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY FOR UTERINE MYOMA

Objective. To investigate the safety and usefulness of salvage-type au tologous blood transfusion for abdominal simple total hysterectomy for uterine myoma. Methods: Forty patients with uterine myoma diagnosed h istologically were treated by abdominal simple total hysterectomy usin g an intraoperative blood salvage apparatus. Bacterial contamination i n the processed blood was studied. Results: Homologous blood transfusi on was unnecessary. There was a positive relationship between bleeding volume and the hemoglobin (g) level in the processed blood. All vagin al swabs were positive for bacteria. Bacterial cultures of all process ed blood samples without an antibiotic were positive whereas results w ere negative in 11 (50%) of the processed blood samples with an antibi otic. There were no significant side effects after reinfusion. Conclus ion: Salvage-type autologous blood transfusion in abdominal simple tot al hysterectomy for uterine myoma was safe and its future use is promi sing. (C) 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.