Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) has been routinely applied in cardiac pediatric
cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, this technique is performed in pediatric
patients weighing more than 20 kg, and research about its application in pediatric
patients weighing less than 20 kg is still scarce. This study explored the clinical
application of RAP in CPB in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Sixty
pediatric patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were randomly divided into control
and experimental groups. The experimental group was treated with CPB using RAP, while
the control group was treated with conventional CPB (priming with suspended red blood
cells, plasma and albumin). The hematocrit (Hct) and lactate (Lac) levels at
different perioperative time-points, mechanical ventilation time, hospitalization
duration, and intraoperative and postoperative blood usage were recorded. Results showed that Hct levels at 15 min after CPB
beginning (T2) and at CPB end (T3), and number of intraoperative blood transfusions
were significantly lower in the experimental group (P<0.05). There were no
significant differences in CPB time, aortic blocking time, T2-Lac value or T3-Lac
between the two groups (P>0.05). Postoperatively, there were no significant
differences in Hct (2 h after surgery), mechanical ventilation time, intensive care
unit time, or postoperative blood transfusion between two groups (P>0.05). RAP can
effectively reduce the hemodilution when using less or not using any banked blood,
while meeting the intraoperative perfusion conditions, and decreasing the
perioperative blood transfusion volume in pediatric patients.