Posted on 09/17/2025 9:58:44 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A study reports that acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH)—a blood-saving method in which a patient's blood is collected before going on heart-lung bypass and reinfused near the end of cardiac surgery—remains underused in the United States at 14.7%. Yet the study found that ANH lowered the likelihood of a transfusion by 27%, a decrease in blood use that could cut costs substantially while still protecting patient safety and outcomes.
Global demand for cardiac surgery is increasing, with more than 1 million procedures performed annually worldwide. In high-income countries like the United States, cardiac surgery remains the largest consumer of blood products, with 30% to 50% of patients receiving red blood cell transfusions.
"Blood may look reasonably inexpensive compared to some of the medications we use every day, but when you think about how blood is administered, there are multiple steps involved, including testing and typing the blood, before we even purchase it," he added. "Our study estimates that these costs associated with blood processing are almost three times higher than just the cost of acquiring the blood."
In addition to a 27% lower chance of a blood transfusion among those receiving ANH, the study showed that platelet usage was lower in the ANH group. This is clinically significant, as platelets begin to lose functionality if stored in a blood bank for more than a few days.
"Most heart surgery patients are on aspirin prior to their procedures," Tanaka said, "but with ANH, we can preserve the patient's own platelets and protect them from damage caused by the heart-lung machine, allowing them to function more effectively at the end of surgery."
The retrospective study analyzed 16,795 patients from 52 sites in the United States. ANH was performed at 28 sites, representing 2,463 cases, or 14.7%.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Who wants today’s questionable blood bank blood?
Oh.
I’ve had two open hearts
Transfusions are uncommon now
2 open hearts? Dying is easier to deal with.
I had open heart surgery about 15 months ago and I did not need a transfusion either....hopefully, my one open heart surgery is all I get but if another aneurysm develops or the pig valve can’t be replaced any other way, I might have to get one in 10 years or so if I live that long....anyone that has had more than one open heart surgery is to be congratulated.
They are a beast
Born bad cleft heart from womb
That was late 40s 20 years ago
a lifetime of it made me mean like you know Hitler on tequila
I just keep going doing everything till it’s over
Only good thing about open heart surgery other than not being dead is dilaudid
Lord you could dose me on that crap for. Week watching YouTube eating nothing but top shelf watermelon ice cold
Yeah I’d be good lol
I can see why folks like it
Systemic arthritis I’ve found is toughest thing I’ve dealt with honestly
My Dad had a pig valve. He lived another 30 years, almost to 89. It wasn’t his heart that gave out. I think his body just wore out.
If I live long enough I can expect two heart related issues, the pig valve wearing out and the pacemaker I got while in the hospital recovering from the open heart surgery will need the battery replaced at some point
That seems like common sense. Why isn’t it used extensively?
The whole blood this is completely crooked. The blood doctor at our public blood bank makes over a million dollars. The hospital charges a fortune for blood transfusion. the donor get a thank you and a lapel sticker that says “I donated blood today.”
My Dad was given a pig valve because they told him he was too old for a mechanical valve. I believe he was about 60 at the time. Maybe late 50s. That was in the mid 70s..
I was 64 when I had my surgery.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.