Autotransfusion during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Tolksdorf, B.; Schmeck, J.; Osika, A.; Bender, H.J.; Quintel, M.
International Journal of Artificial Organs 23(12): 840-844
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-3988 PMID: 11197744 Document Number: 516609
To reduce allogeneic blood transfusion requirements during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) we evaluated an autotransfusion device which processes and retransfuses erythrocytes of changed ECMO-systems. We studied 10 elective changes of ECMO-systems in 7 patients. Hemoglobin levels, the amount of retransfused autologous blood and of transfused allogeneic packed red blood cell units were documented within 48 h after the system change and compared to the measurements obtained from former ECMO-system changes without using any autotransfusion device. We determined the Horrowitz-index, Interleukin 6, 10, TNF-alpha and endothelin-I concentrations and coagulation parameters during the 48 hours after system change to study the compatibility of this procedure. Allogeneic blood transfusion was reduced from 7 to 2 units of packed red cells using the autotransfusion device. Additionally, no hints of any harmful side effects in these patients was observed.