CONSERVATION IN MASSIVE SUCTION LIPECTOMY

The practice of massive liposuction for the treatment of patients with large lipodystrophies has already been reported. The safety of this t echnique lies in proper fluid and blood replacement. Blood conservatio n techniques are therefore needed to avoid or minimize homologous tran sfusion. The use of a combination of predeposited autologous blood and acute intraoperative normovolemic hemodilution in the management of 1 50 patients requiring massive liposuction is reported. Since it is pos sible to anticipate the amount of blood loss in liposuction, a formula is proposed to monitor the hematocrit of the patient during the proce dure and therefore predict the need for homologous transfusion. The te chnique reported enabled us to aspirate up to 11 liters in a single st age. Homologous transfusion was either avoided or markedly reduced. Th e degree of patient satisfaction was high, with no mortality or morbid ity reported.