Effect of hemodilution on tissue perfusion and blood coagulation during radical hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety of hemodilution on global and splanchnic perfusion and blood coagulation during radical hysterectomy. METHODS: A pulmonary artery catheter and a gastric tonometry catheter were placed in 16 patients with cervical carcinoma. Global perfusion indices, splanchnic perfusion index, and coagulation tests were obtained. Blood was removed to achieve a hemoglobin measurement of 8-9 9 g/dL. Three more measurements were repeated after hemodilution, at the end of surgery, and after the retransfusion of blood. Analysis of variance was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with cervical carcinoma had 1.0 +/- 0.3 L (mean +/- SD) of blood removed and had a blood loss of 0.8 +/- 0.7 L. Hemodiluted preoperative hemoglobin was 8.7 +/- 1 g/dL. All of the global perfusion indices, except for arterial pH and oxygen consumption, decreased after hemodilution and recovered with the retransfusion of blood (P < or = 0.004). Splanchnic perfusion and coagulation tests were unchanged (P > or = 0.1). Major complication was pulmonary edema in one patient. CONCLUSION: Hemodilution during radical hysterectomy, in this select group of patients, does not appear to compromise tissue perfusion or coagulation.