Introduction: One of the important causes of the high mortality and morbidity during surgery is transfusion. Important factors which change during transfusion are coagulation system, blood pH, and tissue oxygenation. There are two types of transfusion: homologous (traditional) and autologous. Autologous transfusion, one type of which called ANH was evaluated in this study, have several differences which are important especially during surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these differences.

Methods: 60 patients in 2 groups were studied. Before beginning of the surgery these tests were done: PT, PTT, arterial blood gases (A.B.G.), bleeding time (BT), C.B.C and platelet count. Then one type of transfusion that had been chosen by random allocation was used. At the end of transfusion and within 6 hours, the same tests were repeated. Using the information from C.B.C. and A.B.G., arterial oxygen partial pressure ratio to alveolar oxygen partial pressure (PaO2/PAO2) was calculated.

Results: Reduction of hemoglobin after both types of transfusion was seen, but it was more prominent after ANH type compared with the other type. BT and PTT increase and PT% decrease were more prominent in homologous group.

Conclusion: The amount of hemoglobin reduction after transfusion in both groups showed that ANH is an acceptable alternative method of transfusion in some cases. More BT and PTT increase and PT% decrease in homologous group show more damaging effect homologous transfusion on coagulation system.

Hakim Research Journal 2007 9(4): 12- 16.