Effectiveness of acute normovolemic hemodilution to minimize allogeneic blood transfusion in major liver resections.

In this randomized controlled trial, acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) resulted in a decrease of allogeneic blood exposure in ASA I-II patients undergoing major liver resection. As emphasized by Dr. Weiskopf in the accompanying editorial, this study was designed to meet the different criteria required to adequately assess the efficacy of ANH. In addition, the results of the study are in agreement with several published mathematical models predicting that for ANH to be efficacious, blood loss should be comprised between 70 and 90% of the estimated blood volume.

– Philippe Van der Linden