Absence of beneficial effect of acute normovolemic hemodilution combined with aprotinin on allogeneic blood transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery.

This prospective randomized study showed that acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) did not reduce the risk of allogeneic blood transfusion in elective cardiac surgical patients. However, the interpretation of these results is limited by the fact that ANH was not performed in clinical conditions where its efficacy can be demonstrated: low blood volume collection and reduced perioperative blood loss by the use of aprotinin and cell salvage.

– Philippe Van der Linden.