Autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood after open heart surgery

Objective To determine the safety and effectiveness of autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood after open heart surgery. Methods Sixty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were selected randomly to receive either nonwashed shed mediastinal blood (Group 1,n=30) or banked blood (Group 2, n=30). Drainage and transfusion volume were determined after the operation. Hb,RBC,HCT and PLT were detected immediately before and after the operation,as well as 24 hours and 7 days after the operation. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test. A P <0.05 was considered significant. Results There were no significant differences in Hb,HCT,PLT or length of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) ( P >0.05). In the two groups,no significant difference in the mean blood loss was observed during 24 hours after the operation (660±300 ml in Group 1 and 655±280 ml in Group 2, P >0.05). In Group 1,the mean volume autotransfused was 280±160 ml,and the patients required 360±80 ml banked blood compared with 660±120 ml in Group 2. In other words,the banked blood requirement in Group 1 was 40% lower. Conclusions Autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood after an open heart operation is safe and effective.

Ultraviolet blood irradiation and oxygenation affects free radicals and antioxidase after rabbit spinal cord injury

To investigate the effects of ultraviolet blood irradiation and oxygenation (UBIO) on free radicals and antioxidase after spinal cord injury in rabbits Methods Totally, 186 rabbits were used and divided randomly into four experimental groups: control (n=6), blood transfusion (n=24), injured (n=96) and treatment (n=60) groups The relative intensity of free radical (FR) signals, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH PX) were compared among the four groups at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours and 6 days after injury Results The relative intensity of FR signals in spinal cord tissue in the injured group increased at 48 hours and showed a striking difference compared with the control group; in the treatment group, it decreased and showed a striking difference compared with the injured group MDA content in blood in the injured group increased and showed a striking difference at 6, 24 and 48 hours and showed a significant difference at 72 hours and 6 days after injury compared with the control group In the treatment group, MDA content in blood decreased and showed a significant difference at 48 hours compared with the injured group MDA content in spinal cord tissue increased in the injured group and showed a striking difference compared with the control group; in the treatment group, it decreased and showed a striking difference compared with the injured group at the corresponding times The activity of SOD in blood and spinal cord tissue decreased in the injured group and showed a striking difference compared with the control group; in the treatment group, it increased and showed a striking difference compared with the injured group at the corresponding times The changes in activity of GSH PX in blood and spinal cord tissue were similar to that in SOD No significant difference was observed between the blood transfusion and control groups Conclusion UBIO can ease free radical damages and elevate the activity of antioxidases after spinal cord injury in rabbits