Risk factors and transfusion requirements in aortic surgery.
An audit of heterologous blood usage was made on 169 of 185 successive patients undergoing aortic surgery with a view to identifying factors determining individual transfusion requirements. The use of knitted prostheses was associated with 1.4 units, and aneurysmal disease 1.0 units of extra transfusion. Other factors influencing extra transfusion requirements were presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and low preoperative haemoglobin values. Clearly, if appropriate, the use of woven grafts seems worthwhile in terms of reduced transfusion requirements. However, individual prediction of patient transfusion requirements does not appear feasible with the factors studied.
Aortic Aneurysm↗