Transfusion
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Prophylactic platelet (PLT) transfusion practices have become more conservative as studies support a threshold for transfusions at 10 x 10(9) per L. This change in practice may reduce our use of PLT transfusions. ⋯ Many prophylactic PLT transfusions were given at PLT counts higher than the recommended trigger. Although the new transfusion guidelines altered transfusion practice, only a minor change in overall PLT usage was observed. Other changes in transfusion practices, such as dose per transfusion or sampling interval, will be required before significant reduction in the costs and hazards of prophylactic PLT transfusions can be realized.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cardioprotective effects of acute normovolemic hemodilution in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement.
After acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH), improvement of the rheologic conditions may contribute to optimize tissue oxygen delivery and attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injuries. It was hypothesized that ANH would confer additional cardioprotection in patients with ventricular hypertrophy undergoing open heart surgery. ⋯ Besides conventional cardiac preservation techniques, preoperative ANH further attenuates myocardial injuries. Optimization of preischemic myocardial oxygen delivery and/or consumption and the postconditioning effects of endogenous EPO are potential mechanisms for ANH-induced cardioprotection.
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Usually, a predonation hemoglobin (Hb) measurement must precede blood donation. Hb values of a donor's previous donation might be used for selecting a subgroup in which predonation Hb measurements are unnecessary. ⋯ Selecting donors for a current Hb measurement based upon their last whole-blood predonation Hb value is a useful method, even after prolonged interdonation intervals.