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Autologous blood predeposit for elective surgery: An Italian experience

  • Progress Symposium-Hemotherapy
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Abstract

A program of predeposit autotransfusion in elective surgery was implemented with the main purpose of decreasing the incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis and of conserving homologous blood. Specific procedures and computer programs were designed to monitor the transfusion practice by key indicators, and the incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis and HTLV-III infections. Arrangements were devised to ensure the proper management of autologous and homologous units. In 1985, autologous units accounted for 13.5% of all units transfused in elective surgery. While encouraging, our results indicate that efforts have to be made to improve organization and increase awareness of the benefits of autotransfusion in the medical and lay communities.

Résumé

Un programme de transfusion reposant sur l'emploi du propre sang du malade (sang autologue) prélevé avant l'intervention a été mis en oeuvre au cours de la chirurgie élective. Son but principal est de réduire la fréquence de l'hépatite posttransfusionnelle et l'utilisation de sang homologue. Des méthodes spécifiques et programmées sur ordinateur ont été mises au point de manière à contrôler la pratique de la transfusion en fonction d'éléments clefs et aussi de contrôler la fréquence de l'hépatite post-transfusionnelle et des infections HTLV-III. Des dispositions ont été établies pour assurer l'emploi adéquat d'unités de sang du malade ou de sang homologue. En 1985, la méthode a été employée dans 13.5% des cas au cours de la chirurgie élective. Bien qu'encourageants, les résultats obtenus indiquent que les efforts doivent être poursuivis pour améliorer l'organisation de ce mode d'auto-transfusion et aussi pour améliorer ses résultats.

Resumen

Un programa de autotransfusión predepositada en cirugía electiva ha sido organizado con el propósito de rebajar la incidencia de hepatitis postransfusional y de conservar sangre homôloga. Se diseñaron procedimientos especiales y programas de computación para la monitoría de las prácticas de transfusión por medio de indicadores claves, y la incidencia de hepatitis postransfusional y de infección por HTLV-III. Se establecieron arreglos especiales para asegurar el debido manejo de las unidades autólogas y homologas. En 1985, las unidades autólogas representaron el 13.5% de la totalidad de las unidades transfundidas en cirugía electiva. Aunque promisorios, los resultados indican que deben emprenderse esfuerzos orientados a mejorar la organización y a incrementar el conocimiento de los beneficios de la autotransfusión tanto entre los médicos como en la comunidad general.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Trasfusionale e di Immunologia dei Trapanti, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Via Francesco Sforza 35, Milano, Italy

    P. Rebulla M.D., A. M. Giovanetti D.Sc., F. Mercuriali M.D. & G. Sirchia M.D.

  2. Centro Trasfusionale, Istituto Ortopedico “Gaetano Pini”, Milan, Italy

    P. Rebulla M.D., A. M. Giovanetti D.Sc., F. Mercuriali M.D. & G. Sirchia M.D.

Authors
  1. P. Rebulla M.D.
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  2. A. M. Giovanetti D.Sc.
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  3. F. Mercuriali M.D.
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  4. G. Sirchia M.D.
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“Autotransfusion Team”

Additional information

Members of the “Autotransfusion Team,” 1985 B. Andreoni, F. Annoni, A. Anselmi, C. Arienta, C. Bagni, M. Baiguini, L. Baldini, L. Beretta, S. Berra, G. Bevilacqua, R. Biffi, L. Bigatello, V. Buzzetti, G. Cantaluppi, G. Cantoni, L. Ceretti, D. Chiurazzi, M. Citterio, C. Confalonieri, E. Consonni, E. Contessini Avesani, A. Cortelezzi, C. Crosta, Jr., M. Cugnasca, G. Damia, C. De Luca, P. De Rai, A. De Sanctis, S. Doldi, M. Erba, C. Ferrari, O. Ferri, N. Fraschini, S.M. Gaini, P.L. Giorgetti, G. Giuffrida, G. Gonnella, G. Granata, A. Inzaghi, G.L. Legnani, T. Longo, A. Mandressi, A. Mantovani, R. Marconato, M. Marinoni, R. Massei, A. Mattioli, M. Marzotto, M. Meriggi, M. Mezzetti, S. Miani, G. Miserocchi, W. Montorsi, A. Morbidelli, L. Morelli, R. Mozzana, E. Mozzi, A. Nespoli, M. Nosotti, A. Odero, N. Olivari, G.F. Pellegrini, G. Petrini, G. Pezzuoli, E. Pisani, M.N. Pizzi, S. Poma, P. Rampini, R. Ravagnan, E. Ronchetti, R. Rosati, R. Rossi, U. Ruberti, R. Russo, P. Salvini, M.G. Sandri, L. Santambrogio, V. Scortecci, R. Scorza, P. Settembrini, P. Setti Carraro, E. Sibilla, G. Signoroni, V.A. Sironi, A. Tajana, L. Tarenzi, A.M. Taschieri, P. Tombolini, G. Tomei, M. Tos, R. Trazzi, A. Trimboli Cataldo, A. Trinchieri, L. Vicentini, R. Villani, G. Vincre, A. Vinci, C.P. Voci, and M. Zavannone.

See Acknowledgment for members of the “Autotranfusion Team.”

Supported in part by a grant from Ministero della Sanità, Rome, Italy.

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Rebulla, P., Giovanetti, A.M., Mercuriali, F. et al. Autologous blood predeposit for elective surgery: An Italian experience. World J. Surg. 11, 47–52 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01658459

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