Advertisement for orthosearch.org.uk
You currently have no access to view or download this content. Please log in with your institutional or personal account if you should have access to through either of these
The Bone & Joint Journal Logo

Receive monthly Table of Contents alerts from The Bone & Joint Journal

Comprehensive article alerts can be set up and managed through your account settings

View my account settings

Acute haemodilutional autotransfusion in the surgical management of scoliosis



Download PDF

Abstract

Homologous blood transfusions are not without risks, especially in young women and girls. In patients undergoing certain elective surgical procedures autologous blood transfusion is a good alternative. Normovolaemic haemodilution in association with autotransfusion offers the additional advantages of reduced loss of red cell mass during the operation and an increase in tissue blood flow. In this study twenty-seven adolescent patients undergoing Harrington instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis had haemodilutional autotransfusions during their operations, none requiring homologous blood. Eighteen were given an average of 750 millilitres of homologous blood in the postoperative period which compared favourably with controls who required 1280 millilitres.

For access options please click here