Intraoperative blood salvage in abdominal simple total hysterectomy for uterine myoma

Abstract
Objective: To investigate the safety and usefulness of salvage-type autologous blood transfusion for abdominal simple total hysterectomy for uterine myoma. Methods: Forty patients with uterine myoma diagnosed histologically were treated by abdominal simple total hysterectomy using an intraoperative blood salvage apparatus. Bacterial contamination in the processed blood was studied. Results: Homologous blood transfusion was unnecessary. There was a positive relationship between bleeding volume and the hemoglobin (g) level in the processed blood. All vaginal swabs were positive for bacteria. Bacterial cultures of all processed blood samples without an antibiotic were positive whereas results were negative in 11 (50%) of the processed blood samples with an antibiotic. There were no significant side effects after reinfusion. Conclusion: Salvage-type autologous blood transfusion in abdominal simple total hysterectomy for uterine myoma was safe and its future use is promising.