The Effect of Autologous Blood Transfusion in Open Heart Procedures on the Requirement of Allogeneic Blood Products

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of autologous blood transfusion on the requirement of allogeneic blood products and the change in hemoglobin levels in open heart procedures. Patients and methods The study included 59 patients who underwent open heart procedures from July 2020 to August 2022. Group 1 (35 patients) received an autologous blood transfusion, and group 2 (24 patients) did not receive an autologous transfusion. The requirement of allogeneic blood components and other demographic and clinical parameters were compared between the two groups. Results In the autologous group, 22 (62.9%) patients underwent valve replacement, 9 (25.7%) patients underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, and 4 (11.4%) patients other procedures (atrial septal defect closure, pulmonary stenosis), whereas in the non-autologous group, 19 (79.7%) patients underwent valve replacement, 3 (12.5%) patients underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass, and 2 (8.33%) patients underwent other on pump procedures. The comparison of the change in hemoglobin levels after surgery between the two groups was statistically significant, with greater change seen in the autologous group. The requirement for blood products was more in group 2, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion Use of autologous blood during cardiac surgery on pump did not reveal any significant advantage. On the contrary, change in hemoglobin from preoperative to postoperative levels was greater in the autologous group as compared to the non-autologous group.