Intraoperative autologous blood transfusion of peritoneal blood during laparotomy for ectopic pregnancy: prospective study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative autologous blood transfusion during laparotomy for hemoperitoneum in ectopic pregnancy and also safety of homologous blood transfusion along with autologous blood transfusion. METHOD Fresh blood, from peritoneal cavity, was collected for autotransfusion in sterile dish, filtered through eight layers of sterile gauze pieces, and collected in a sterile bowl. The collected blood was transferred into blood infusion bag containing citrate phosphate dextrose adenine solution in the proportion of five parts of blood to one part of citrate solution. RESULTS Mean volume of autologous blood transfused in patients without homologous transfusion was 573 ± 328. Mean preoperative hemoglobin was 4.95 ± 1.5, and postoperative hemoglobin was 6.85 ± 1.3. Hence, rise in hemoglobin was 1.9 g%. Autologous blood volume transfused in 29 patients (who required homologous blood transfusion) was 488 ± 216. Preoperative hemoglobin was 4.35 ± 1.94. The result was compared with other studies. CONCLUSION Intraoperative autologous blood transfusion enabled the performance of laparotomy in hemodynamically unstable ectopic pregnancy patients without availability of homologous blood transfusion. Homologous blood transfusion is compatible with autologous blood transfusion.