Retrospective study (January 2007-July 2012).
SETTING: Private veterinary referral center.
ANIMALS: None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The hospital transaction database was searched using the keyword "
autotransfusion" from January 2007 to July 2012. Data collected included signalment,
body weight, etiology of
hemorrhage, source and method of collection, volumes and method of ABT administration, use of
anticoagulant, reported complications, and outcome. Twenty-five dogs were included for a total of 27
ABTs. Causes of
hemorrhage included vascular
trauma (14/25 dogs, 56%), ruptured
tumor (8/25, 32%), and coagulopathy attributed to
brodifacoum toxicosis (3/25, 12%). Autologous blood was collected from the abdominal (19/25, 76%), thoracic (5/25, 20%), or abdominal and thoracic cavities (1/25, 4%).
Anticoagulant was added to the ABT blood in 13 of 25 (52%) cases. A median ABT volume of 29.3 mL/kg (range 2.9-406.9 mL/kg) was infused through either a 210 μm blood administration filter (21/27, 78%) or an 18 μm hemonate filter (6/27, 22%). Reported complications that may have been associated with ABT included
hypocalcemia (4/17, 24%), hemolyzed serum (5/19, 26%), and prolonged coagulation times (4/5, 80%). These complications were considered of minimal clinical significance. Additional blood products were administered in 17 of 25 (68%) dogs. Seventeen (68%) dogs survived to discharge. Cause of death in the remaining cases was
euthanasia or
cardiac arrest secondary to uncontrollable
hemorrhage.
CONCLUSIONS: ABT is an adjunct to volume replacement in dogs with thoracic or abdominal
hemorrhage secondary to vascular
trauma, ruptured
tumor, or
anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis. ABT may be used as bridge to definitive
hemorrhage control, particularly when other blood products are not available or affordable. Complications may include
hypocalcemia, prolonged coagulation times, and
hemolysis.