Blood transfusions after thoracoscopic anterior thoracolumbar vertebrectomy

Brian T. Ragel, Peter Kan, Meic H. Schmidt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose Anterior vertebral body reconstruction (AVBR) for trauma or tumor involves corpectomy and placement of hardware to reconstitute the anterior weight-bearing stability of the spine. We report our clinical experience with thoracoscopic techniques for AVBR. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent thoracoscopic AVBR surgery for expandable cage placement. We report pathological condition, patient age, vertebral body level, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and need for blood transfusion. Results Twenty-one expandable cages were placed thoracoscopically in 15 fractures and six tumors. In fracture cases, mean age, operative time, EBL, and transfusion rate were 36.7 years, 4.9 h, 543 mL, and 7% (1/15), respectively. In tumor cases, mean age, operative time, EBL, and transfusion rate were 61.9 years, 4.9 h, 758 mL, and 17% (1/6), respectively. Conclusions Thoracoscopic AVBR with expandable cages can be accomplished safely with acceptable operative times and blood loss and low transfusion rates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)597-603
Number of pages7
JournalActa Neurochirurgica
Volume152
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood transfusion
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Thoracoscopic surgery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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