Tranexamic acid and primary coronary artery bypass surgery: a prospective study.

Tranexamic acid was used to reduce postoperative drainage and allogenic blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing on-pump primary coronary bypass surgery. Over 12 months, 222 patients participated in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study conducted at a tertiary center. Half of the patients were randomly allocated to receive tranexamic acid as a bolus (10 mg x kg(-1)) prior to sternotomy, followed by an infusion (1 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1)) up to the time of starting of protamine.

Management of sickle cell disease during CABG surgery--a case report.

Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass techniques following preoperative transfusions to increase the hemoglobin A levels to above 60%, in a male patient with sickle cell disease [SCD] is described. Avoidance of hypoxia and acidosis lead to an uneventful perioperative period. Our institutional protocol for preoperative transfusions is highlighted.

Cardiopulmonary bypass without preoperative exchange transfusion in sicklers.

The effect of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass techniques on the sickling process was evaluated in patients with sickle cell hemoglobin. It was presumed that intraoperative hemolysis, as identified by hemoglobinuria, reflected increased sickling. Data of 43 patients with sickle cell traits and 2 with sickle cell disease, who were operated on under cardiopulmonary bypass and cold cardioplegic arrest in a tertiary center from the beginning of 1995 to the end of 2004, were retrospectively analyzed.