Abstract

Background: The adverse effects of blood transfusion, the  cost factor and its shortage  has necessitated the  medical fraternity to evolve new strategies to overcome these, as limiting factors for surgery.ANH is one of the many options clinicians may use to minimize perioperative exposure to allogeneic blood products

Aim: Aim of the study is to study the efficacy of moderate acute normovolemic haemodilution in patients undergoing elective major orthopaedic surgeries with special references to the complications and its technical difficulties.

Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval of ethics committee and informed consents of the patient, 25 patients posted to undergo major orthopaedic elective surgeries were drafted into the study and ANH was performed. Mean change in Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, bleeding time, clotting time, platelet count, haemoglobin, potassium were studied in the predilution and post dilution period.  Cost factor and time factor were also analysed.

Conclusion: We conclude that moderate ANH is a safe, effective procedure that can be done with routine monitoring. This method is cost effective , the technical difficulties and complications are very minimal when compared to benefits.

Key words: Blood transfusion, Acute normovolemic hemodilution.