Proceedings—Houston 1979

Effects of Hemodilution on Red Blood Cell Fragility Index

Long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center New Hyde Park, New York 11042

^* Address reprint request to: Richard Chan, 34 Capitol Heights Rd., Oyster Bay, New York 11771 (516-922-0855).

Abstract

Twenty patients with coronary artery disease were selected at random to study the effects of hemodilution on red blood cell fragility index before undergoing extracorporeal circulation. The purpose of this study is to establish accurate base line values based on hematocrit ranges as a prelude to studying red blood cell trauma during extracorporeal circulation. For each patient studied, five separate samples were mixed with various amounts of lactated Ringers solution. The dilutions resulted in a separation of approximately 7 hematocrit between the five samples. The samples were then studied within four hours using the modified Dacie’s Method.^1,2 Results of the studies show significant differences in RBC fragility values between the samples from 45 hematocrit to 15. A search of the literature dealing with blood trauma reveal no information relating to the significance of hemodilutions to red blood cell trauma. The authors believe that hemodilution is a major factor to consider in evaluating red blood cell trauma studies and a method of this type should be employed in doing so.