Open AccessBlood Conservation in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Author(s) -
Pouard Philippe
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
transfusion alternatives in transfusion medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1778-428X
pISSN - 1295-9022
DOI - 10.1111/j.1778-428x.2005.tb00155.x
Subject(s) - medicine , blood conservation , intensivist , technician , cardiac surgery , intensive care medicine , surgery , general surgery , intensive care , electrical engineering , engineering
SUMMARY There are many blood conservation strategies available for children undergoing cardiac surgery. These strategies will vary depending on patient age and type of surgery. The goal of them all, however, is the same, namely to minimize exposure to allogeneic transfusion while maximizing the use of autologous red cells. Every participant in the process, including the cardiologist, anesthesiologist, perfusionist, surgeon, intensivist and laboratory technician, is committed to the overriding objective of blood conservation in pediatric cardiac surgery. Even if the effects and costs of al l these methods have not yet been completely assessed, many are available, accurate and need to be implemented.