Abstract
The subjects consisted of cases of unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm operated upon between 1989 and 1992 with or without blood transfusion. The blood transfusion group contained 13 patients and the non-transfusion group consisted 17 patients. Non-transfusion cases accounted for 57% and there was no operative death in this group. In 6 patients a Cell saver was used, and it was effective in 3 patients (20%) for non-transfusion. There were significant differences in preoperative hemoglobin, preoperative hematocrit, maximum diameter of aneurysm and bleeding volume in the blood transfusion group and non-transfusion group (p<0.05). In non-transfusion operations the Cell saver appears advantageous.
