Patients who undergo cardiac operations are the ones who most often need blood transfusions during surgery. They’re also generally in a delicate physical state, and their care teams do everything they can to help their overall health outcomes. So, while receiving blood from donors during surgery is an option, it comes with the risk of complications. To possibly minimize that risk, surgical teams often consider autologous blood donation, where blood is taken from the patient at the start of their surgery and returned to their circulation at its completion or sooner if necessary. However, there are different ways the blood can be stored and anesthesia and pain management resident Dr. Ganton is determined to find the best one.
The three different storage methods for whole blood during surgery include the most common one, where the blood bag is continuously rocked throughout the surgery (just like your blood bag is moved while you donate blood), intermittent mixing, where the bag is turning approximately once an hour, or leaving the bag still throughout the procedure.
“Our study is trying to find which of these three methods best preserves the overall function, like the ability for blood to clot, as well as reduces the overall damage to the blood as it’s stored in the operating room.
“The function of the blood in this patient group is very, very important so if we can do something to minimize complications or reduce risks with these patients that already have a high burden of illness, I think it can make a big difference,” says Dr. Ganton.
Dr. Ganton’s study relates to a more extensive study that cardiovascular anesthetist Dr. Angela Neufeld is working on. Her research further explores the benefits of intraoperative autologous donation – blood from yourself given back to yourself – compared to allogenic blood transfusions which come from a donor.
“I’m very grateful for the Kaye Competition funding. It’s a collaborative and cooperative effort – you’re working with people in your community for people in your community,” reflects Dr. Ganton. “No matter how good your research question is or whether you have access to patients, without funding, the research doesn’t happen, and you can’t make the impact you want to.”
In addition to improved health outcomes for surgical patients, the hope is that the research findings could help to reduce the need for other people’s blood during surgical procedures. This would take the pressure off donors and help make blood available for others with no other option.