Open heart surgery in children of Jehovah's witnesses: Extreme hemodilution on cardiopulmonary bypass

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Abstract
Between January 1979 and July 1989, 15 children of Jehovah's Witnesses underwent corrective open surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Ages ranged from 1.5–17 years and body weight from 9.1–63 kg, with five patients weighing less than 15 kg. Eight children were cyanotic, and two of them had had previous thoracic operations. All operations were performed in moderate to deep hypothermia using a modified version of isovolemic hemodilution with bloodless priming technique of extracorporeal circulation. Mean hematocrit levels decreased from 47.3% (36.9–70%) to 34.6% (27.2–49.1%) after hemodilution, and then to 17.9% (10.5–25.6%) during bypass. They increased again to 34.1% (24.4–50%) at the end of the operation and to 33.4% (25.1–40%) on day 12. All intra- and postoperative hematocrit levels were significantly lower (p<0.001). There was one postoperative death, not related to the technique. Our results demonstrate that bloodless cardiac surgery on bypass is feasible in children as shown in this special group of children of Jehovah's Witnesses. Knowing the risks of homologous blood transfusion this technique should be used more extensively in the future.