Predeposit autologous blood transfusion in patients with esophageal cancer

Abstract

Since patients after a cancer operation without homologous blood transfusions are doing better than patients with these transfusions, many efforts have been made to reduce homologous transfusions. A predeposit autologous blood transfusion service was provided for patients scheduled for elective surgery for esophageal cancer. Twenty patients each donated two units of blood preoperatively. All patients were given oral iron supplementation. For one patient, the operation was cancelled. Twelve patients (60%) received only autologous blood, seven patients (35%) needed additional homologous blood. Overall, 35 units of autologous blood and 16 units of additional homologous blood were needed. All patients were very well motivated and preoperative blood donation was tolerated without complaints. Thus, predeposit autologous blood transfusion in patients with esophageal cancer is possible and homologous blood transfusion is reduced by 69%. No significant difference was noted between patients with autologous transfusions as against those with homologous transfusions as regards postoperative complications.