These data show that there is minimal effect of storing whole blood at ambient temperature for 24 hours on the coagulation activity of plasma and that this is an acceptable alternative to producing plasma on the day of blood collection.

Overnight hold of WB before processing has no lasting deleterious effects on in vitro quality of subsequently prepared components. The use of different RBC ASs did not appear to offer significant advantages in terms of RBC quality at the end, regardless of the processing method.

No abstract

Background: In a controlled, randomized, prospective, open, comparative study we evaluated the platelet function of 112 platelet concentrates (PC) prepared by apheresis during 5-day storage. Material and Methods: In one group, 56 PC were prepared by blood cell separator CS-3000 Plus (Baxter GmbH) and the collecting chamber PLT 30^™ with the Omnix^™ system; in the second group, 56 PC were prepared by blood cell separator AS-104 (Fresenius AG). In order to assess the platelet function of PC, the following parameters have been investigated at the day of donation and after 48-hour and 120-hour storage: platelet reactivity according to the Grotemeyer method, index of platelet aggregation induced by ADP and collagen, respectively, and platelet count. Results: Due to an elevated number of hyperaggregable platelets in PC separated with the CS-3000 Plus, platelet reactivity of PC in case of separation with the CS-3000 Plus was higher (1.46 ± 0.9) compared to that of PC separated with the AS-104 (1.20 ± 0.40; p = 0.064). The collagen-induced platelet aggregation after 48-hour storage was significantly higher in PC obtained by the AS-104 separator compared to that of the CS-3000 Plus device (1.54 ± 0.36 versus 1.45 ± 0.36; p < 0.018). With an increase of 63.7%, the level of ADP-induced aggregation was higher in PC collected with the AS-104 than that found in PC obtained by the CS-3000 Plus (34.3%; p = 0.018). With both methods, ADP-induced aggregation only occurred on the day of donation. In PC prepared by AS-104, the reduction of platelets during 5-day storage was 133 × 10³/μl (11%) compared with 294 × 10³/μl (21%) in PC generated by the CS-3000 Plus. The volume of PC showed also differences between the two methods. Conclusion: This investigation demonstrates the necessity to define quality characteristics for PC regarding platelet function in order to optimize the separation process.

Uninterrupted cardioplegia can be safely performed with cold normokalemic CABCP. In contrast, tepid normokalemic CABCP leads to fibrillation, jeopardizes the heart, and should be avoided.UND

A quarter of the German heart surgery institutes use one or more RS methods. The most commonly used were the Cleveland Clinic Score and the Euro Score, followed by internally developed RS methods. RS methods were most frequently used for internal quality control. The degree of the severity of disease of the patients who presented for surgery could only be compared between a small number of institutes using the same RS.

Antithrombotic regimens to prevent venous thromboembolism are standard in the treatment of in-and outpatients with thrombotic risk factors. A classification of the level of risk is made depending on the age, kind of operation, existing hereditary or acquired thrombophilic diatheses and concomitant disease. The antithrombotic prophylaxis is performed in accordance with the classification of risk level in low, moderate, high and highest risk levels. Varicose disease is a thrombotic risk factor. Varicose vein surgery may be classified as thrombogenic. Patients with varicose vein surgery and without other clinical risk factors are low-risk patients. In case of other acquired or hereditary risk factors antithrombotic prophylaxis in varicose vein surgery with low molecular weight heparin should be used. Compression elastic stockings are obligatory.

Temperature measurement of the heart during warm reperfusion after hypothermic cardioplegia can help to assess the effectiveness of the IMA-LAD graft function.