In a consecutive series of abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, a non-washing autotransfusion unit system was used in 47 patients, and was not used in 25. In the 47 patients treated with the autotransfusion unit, the average amount of autotransfused blood was 1, 109±131ml in elective cases. The amount of banked blood transfusion was significantly smaller in autotransfused patients (mean; 712ml), compared to non-autotransfused patients (mean; 1, 405ml). Postoperative levels of serum bilirubin were higher in patients with greater autotransfused blood volumes than those with smaller volumes. The combination of preoperative autologous blood donation (2-3 units) and intraoperative autotransfusion is necessary to perform abdominal aortic aneurysm repair without homologous blood transfusion.

Blood oxygen saturation, keton boby ratio and endotoxin concentration of arterial and hepatic venous blood were measured in 12 adult patients before, during and after extracorporeal circulation (ECC). When rectal temperature returned to 32°C during ECC, the levels of hepatic venous blood oxygen saturation (ShvO₂) and arterial keton body ratio, hepatic venous keton body ratio decreased. The serum level of endotoxin concentration was within normal limits on the operative day and increased at the first and second day after surgery. In three patients in whom the level of ShvO₂ was under 50% at 60 minutes after ECC, postoperative liver dysfunction occurred frequently. Endotoxin changes on the first day after surgery is probably due to recovery differences between hepatic and gastrointestinal circulations.

A 78-year-old man underwent successful removal of a contaminated pacemaker in a case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) septicemia. Septicemia was due to a subcutaneous abscess at the site of old cut electrodes. Following debridement of the infected pacemaker pocket, residual leads and the pacemaker system were removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Bacterial examination of arterial blood and vegetation attached to the leads showed septicemia caused by MRSA. After the operation, antibiotic therapy with vancomycin, arbekacin and minocycline was performed for several weeks. His postoperative course was uneventful without the recurrence of infection. In cases of pacemaker contamination, with septicemia, total removal of the pacemaker system and adequate antibiotic therapy are necessary.

A non-anastomotic false aneurysm occurred in a 77-year-old male 11 years after bypass grafting between the left external iliac artery and the right femoral artery using a Cooley double velour knitted Dacron graft. The false aneurysm was caused by rupture of an artificial graft. A partial resection of the graft and its replacement using a Hemashield^® graft were successfully performed. It was speculated that the mechanical stress by the inguinal band degenerated graft fibers and developed aneurysmal formation.