Utility of red blood cell apheresis in autologous blood donation

Although autologous blood donation is an alternative to allogeneic transfus ion, some authors had questioned its cost-effectiveness. New techniques, li ke red blood cell aphersis could improve the cost-effectiveness of autologo us blood transfusion, therefore we have valued the efficiency of this proce dure in autologous blood donation. Materials and Methods. We studied 131 patients undergoing different types o f surgery who entered the preoperative autologous blood donation program ov er a one year period. Apheresis was performed with the MCS 3p from Haemeone ties. Results. We were able to collect 304 red blood cell units from 131 patients . The average yield per procedure was two units (88 cases, 67.2%). In 31 pa tients (31.3%), we collected 3 units and, in two cases, 4 units were collec ted. The mean volume of the units was 255 (191-280). 18 13.7% patients had an adverse reaction. Most of these were mild. Only in one case was it neces sary to stop the procedure. 202 units (66.4%,) were transfused to 97 patien ts (74%). 12 (9.2%) patients also used allogeneic transfusions (mean units: 0.18 +/- 0.05 with a range 1-5). Conclusion. Red blood cell apheresis is a useful procedure in autologous bl ood donation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.