How do different blood management strategies in patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis impact outcomes?
A study published in the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques. There were 167 patients who underwent isolated posterior spinal fusion. They either underwent:
• Intraoperative retransfusion of shed blood and predonated autologous banked blood
• Cell saver alone
• Combined cell saver and postoperative collection and retransfusion of drained blood
Here are five key notes:
1. There were fewer patients in the cell saver and predonated blood — 3.9 percent — and cell saver and retransfusion — 1.2 percent — who received donor transfusion than those managed with cell saver alone — 33 percent.
2. There was similar donor transfusion rate between the cell saver and predonated blood and retransfusion groups.
3. The average postoperative Hct was higher in the third retransfusion group than in the other two groups:
• Group three: 29.3 percent
• Group one: 25.4 percent
• Group two: 26.1 percent
4. All through groups had similar average change in hemoglobin and Hct after surgery.
5. The study authors concluded the study "demonstrates the efficacy of a combined intraoperative and postoperative cell salvage strategy in PSF for AIS, significantly reduced perioperative donor blood transfusions, maintaining physiological Hct and conserving blood bank resources."