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Letters to the Editor to:

Scientific Articles:
Dinna B. Billote, Silas N. Glisson, David Green, and Richard L. Wixson
A Prospective, Randomized Study of Preoperative Autologous Donation for Hip Replacement Surgery
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2002; 84: 1299-1304 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
*Letters to the Editor: Submit a response to this article

Electronic letters published:

[Read Letter to the Editor] The Intangible aspects of Autologous Transfusions
Chris J. Dangles   (14 August 2002)

The Intangible aspects of Autologous Transfusions 14 August 2002
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Chris J. Dangles,
Orthopaedic surgeon
Carle Clinic Association, Champaign .IL

Send letter to journal:
Re: The Intangible aspects of Autologous Transfusions

chrisj{at}soltec.net Chris J. Dangles

Dear Richard and Co-authors,

I read your excellent paper after a surgical day that included three total hip replacements (8/6/02). The orders to reinfuse the donated units of autologous blood were written before each of the cases were started. There was obviously no waste of the donated units of blood. The hematocrits the following morning were as follows,35,37,37. The pre op values were 42,40,38 respectively. The first patient recieved 1 unit of autologous blood and the other patients each received 2 units.It is apparent to me that I could have probably avoided transfusion in each of these patients.During the three night hospital stay for each of these patients none of the automatic hospital "alerts" were activated.These alerts include urine output less than 30cc/hr, Hct. less than 25, systolic or diastolic blood pressure below 100mmHg or60mmHg.I practice without surgical Residents and would be responding to these alerts.The patients did not require subsequent monitoring of their red cell count after post op day 1. The points I am trying to illustrate are more than physician benefits,there are patient benefits and some cost savings associated with autologous transfusions.The three patients mentioned in this reply are all one week post op, home and doing fine.