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The efficacy and safety of intraoperative acute normovolaemic haemodilution in complex spine surgery in a private surgical facility in Ghana


Irene Wulff
Henry O. Duah
Audrey Oteng-Yeboah
Henry O. Tutu
Kwadwo P. Yankey
Aba S. Essel
Harry Akoto
Oheneba Boachie-Adjei
FOCOS Spine Research Group

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the safety and clinical benefits of intraoperative acute normovolaemic haemodilution (ANH) incomplex spine surgery. 
Design: Prospective comparative cohort studySetting: A private orthopaedic hospital in Ghana
Patients: Seventy-six patients who underwent complex spine deformity surgery
Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. 45 patients to the acute normovolaemic haemodilution(ANH) or Group 1 and 31patients to the non-ANH or Group 2. Following anesthetic administration and before incision, autologous blood was collected from patients in Group1 and was reinfused during/shortly after surgery while patients in Group2 were transfused with compatible allogeneic blood intraoperatively.
Main Outcome Measures: Changes in haemodynamic parameters and incidence of allogeneic transfusions and related complications.
Results: The mean age (years), gender ratio, deformity size and aetiology, fusion levels, and operative times were similar in both groups. Blood loss (ml) of patients in groups 1 and 2 were 1583ml± 830.48 vs 1623ml ± 681.34, p=0.82, respectively. The rate of allogeneic blood transfusion in groups 1 and 2 were 71% vs 80.65%, p=0.88, respectively. Haemoglobin levels (g/dL) in groups 1 and 2 were comparable in both groups at Post-operative Day (POD) 0 and POD 1. Incidence of minor allogeneic transfusion reaction was 1/45 vs 1/31, p=0.80, group-1 and group-2, respectively.
Conclusion: Acute normovolaemic haemodilution can be safely performed in complex spine surgery in underserved regions. However, its use does not obviate allogeneic transfusion in patients with complex spine deformities in whom large volumes of blood loss is expected.


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print ISSN: 0016-9560