Autologous placental blood transfusion after a planned neonatal pacemaker implantation

A fetal third-degree atrio-ventricular block was diagnosed in a 22-year-old woman at 24 weeks of gestation. During clinical follow-up a mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation was detected at 35 weeks and maternal connective tissue diseases were excluded. Early postnatal cardiac pacing therapy was planned and autologous placental blood transfusion was proposed for the treatment of probable blood loss due to pacemaker implantation. A male infant was delivered at 38 weeks vaginally and 87 mL of placental blood was collected from the undelivered placenta. The placental blood was negative for viral markers and syphilis. Subsequent tests for bacteriological cultures were also negative. Within 6 h of delivery, the baby underwent cardiac pacemaker implantation and received 45 mL of autologous placental blood. Autologous placental blood transfusion was successfully used for the treatment of predicted blood loss after a planned neonatal surgical procedure.