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The present study evaluated (1) the influence of the collection of autologous platelet-rich plasma intraoperatively in addition to intraoperative autotransfusion on homologous blood usage and bleeding in cardiac operations; (2) the influence of age, sex, body surface area, type of operation, and reoperations on homologous blood usage and bleeding in cardiac operations utilizing intraoperative autotransfusion and autologous platelet-rich plasma collected intraoperatively; and (3) the influence of the preoperative administration of aspirin, Persantine (dipyridamole), heparin sodium, thrombolytic agents, Coumadin (crystalline warfarin sodium), and nonsteroid, antiinflammatory drugs on homologous blood usage and bleeding in cardiac operations utilizing intraoperative autotransfusion and autologous platelet-rich plasma collected intraoperatively. The results demonstrated a decrease in homologous blood use and bleeding when autologous platelet-rich plasma is collected in addition to the use of intraoperative autotransfusion. All of the patient and procedural variables influenced homologous blood usage and bleeding to some extent. Only the thrombolytic agents affected blood usage by increasing homologous plasma usage. All other drugs evaluated did not influence blood utilization or the amount of bleeding intraoperatively or postoperatively.

The Southern Arizona Red Cross Blood program, in conjunction with participating hospitals and cardiac surgeons, evaluated the effect of a program to harvest autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from patients immediately prior to undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. The PRP was transfused back to the patient after heparin neutralization was achieved at the completion of cardiopulmonary bypass. The effect of this autologous PRP product on homologous plasma and platelet usage was examined. The study demonstrates a significant decrease in homologous plasma and platelet usage when autologous PRP is used in cardiac surgery.

The Southern Arizona Regional Red Cross Blood Program, in cooperation with two cardiac surgery groups, examined the effect of intraoperative autotransfusion on red cell, plasma, and platelet usage during and after cardiac operations. The study evaluated whether intraoperative autotransfusion influenced intraoperative or postoperative blood usage and whether regular use was more effective than selective use. The study demonstrated that intraoperative autotransfusion reduces intraoperative and postoperative blood use and that regular use of intraoperative autotransfusion is more effective than selective use.