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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Anesth Analg. 2014 Jun;118(6):1179–1187. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000227

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Red blood cell (RBC) deformability, represented as the elongation index measured by ektacytometry, is compared among the 3 groups. In patients who received autologous salvaged RBCs only, elongation index did not change from baseline over the 3-day study period. For patients who received autologous salvaged RBCs and <5 units stored allogeneic RBCs, the mean elongation index decreased by 6%, reached a nadir on postoperative day (POD) 1, and remained significantly lower than baseline until POD 2. For those who received autologous salvaged RBCs and ≥5 units stored allogeneic RBCs, the mean elongation index decreased by 14%, reached a nadir on POD 1, and remained significantly lower than baseline for all 3 postoperative days. The findings illustrate a “dose-response” for decreasing RBC deformability with increased number of stored allogeneic RBC transfusions.

Auto = autologous salvaged RBCs only.

Auto+Allo min = autologous salvaged RBCs + minimal (<5 units) stored allogeneic RBCs.

Auto+Allo mod = autologous salvaged RBCs + moderate (≥5 units) stored allogeneic RBCs.

CPB = cardiopulmonary bypass.

*P < 0.05 for between-group differences; #P < 0.05 for within-group difference from pre-incision baseline.