Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) may help to reduce demand for homologous blood but requires extra time and apparatus. A more simple procedure is acute hypervolemic hemodilution (HHD), where hydroxyethylstarch is administered preoperatively without removal of blood. In a prospectively randomized study we compared ANH (preoperatively 15 mL/kg autologous blood removal and replacement with 15...

BACKGROUND Blood loss in hip and knee arthroplasties may necessitate allogeneic blood transfusions. Different blood-saving measures (BSMs) were introduced to reduce these transfusions. Purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency of BSM use, stratified by type and hospital setting of orthopaedic departments in the Netherlands. METHODS An internet-based questionnaire was sent to al...

To the Editor:—In a recent article by Höhn et al., it was concluded that acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) in addition to aprotinin was not beneficial in preventing allogeneic blood transfusions compared to aprotinin alone in cardiac surgery. In this randomized, controlled trial, the patients were hemodiluted to a hematocrit of 28% pre–cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The transfusion threshold...

Large differences in the tolerance of organ systems to conditions of decreased O(2) delivery such as hemodilution exist. The kidney receives approximately 25% of the cardiac output and O(2) delivery is in excess of the oxygen demand under normal circumstances. In a rat model of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH), we studied the effect of reduced hematocrit on renal regional and microvascular...

The effect of isovolemic hemodilution on red blood cell flow distribution was studied in complete self-contained microvessel networks of the rat mesentery. Hematocrit, diameter, and length of all vessel segments as well as the topological structure were determined in control networks (systemic hematocrit, 0.54) and after hemodilution (systemic hematocrit, 0.30). Hemodilution was performed by ex...