Background: The risks associated with the transfusion of donor blood have led to the development of alternative methods, including a far-reaching tolerance of anaemia and perioperative controlled haemodilution (PCH). The objective of this study is: 1) to attempt to assess, under the conditions of a multiprofile general hospital, the efficacy of PCH as a perioperative procedure; 2) to attempt to assess the criterion of old age as a contraindication for the application of this technique.
Material and methods: The patients were allocated randomly to group A or B each made up of 31 patients. Both groups did not differ statistically. In group A, before the administraion of anaesthesia, 500 to 800 ml of blood was collected and the blood was replaced with colloids in the ratio of 1:1. The blood was reinfused postoperatively.
Results: The average hemoglobin content of the blood and the serum protein amongst others, and the general well-being of the patients in both age groups ≤ 70 and > 70, did not reveal any difference of statistical significance.
Conclusions: 1. In the operative wards of a general hospital, a trained group of anaesthests may apply the technique of preoperative controlled haemodilution, which benefits the patient; 2. Preoperative controlled haemodilution maintains haemodynamic stability which allows it to be applied in patients in a wide range of age groups in operative procedures that usually require the transfusion of donor blood in the perioperative period.