Effects of autologous fresh platelet concentrate on haemostasis in cardiacreoperations

The aim of this study was to determine whether autologous fresh platelet co ncentrate (PC) significantly improves haemostasis in cardiac reoperations c ompared with autologous fresh whole blood (WB). Forty-eight patients who ha d elective cardiac reoperations with a low-dose aprotinin priming regimen w ere divided into two groups. The amount of allogeneic blood transfusion was less in patients who were harvested 15 units of PC (Group PC; n = 24) befo re cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) than patients who were harvested 400 ml of WB (Group WB; n = 24), The amount of mediastinal drainage for 12 h in inten sive care units were significantly reduced in Group PC compared with Group WB (435 +/- 273 ml in Group PC versus 909 +/- 209 ml in Group WB; P < 0.001 ). Platelet count and collagen-induced whole blood platelet aggregation inc reased significantly higher in Group PC than Group WB after reinfusion. In conclusion, autologous fresh PC improved haemostasis compared with autologo us fresh whole blood in cardiac reoperations with a low-dose aprotinin prim ing regimen.