BLOOD PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE ENDOVASCULAR ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSM REPAIR

Objective: Endovascular repair (EVR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA ) has many potential advantages, one of which may be reduced blood pro duct requirements. The aim of this study was to compare the current bl ood product usage in our unit for three types of elective operation: E VR of AAA, open AAA repair and femorofemoral crossover grafts. Design: Prospective data analysis with historical controls. Materials: One-hu ndred and thirty-two patients undergoing elective EVR of AAA, 35 patie nts undergoing elective open repair of AAA and 37 patients having femo rofemoral crossover grafts. Methods: Data was collected on the blood p roduct requirements of patients having EVR of AAA, with open AAA repai r and femorofemoral crossover graft providing historical controls. Res ults: There was no difference in the haematological parameters preoper atively between the three groups but postoperatively patients having E VR had a slightly lower haemoglobin than the open group (10.6 g/dl vs. 10.85 g/dl, p = 0.015). The number of patients who received blood tra nsfusion in the EVR group was 82/132 (62%) and the open group 27/35 (7 7%), p=0.4. Conclusion: Patients undergoing EVR of AAA require blood t ransfusion in the same numbers when compared to those undergoing open repair.