Intraoperative autologous transfusion

Andrzej Pluta; Krzysztof Gutkowski; Anna Pluta

Vol 9, No 1 (2007)

Published online: 2007-02-01

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Intraoperative autologous transfusion

Andrzej Pluta, Krzysztof Gutkowski, Anna Pluta

Chirurgia Polska 2007;9(1):43-50.

Vol 9, No 1 (2007)

Published online: 2007-02-01

Abstract

Intraoperative autologous transfusion has been used for over 20 years to avoid the transmission of infections and to decrease a number of transfusions in patients with large intaoperative blood loss. Many patients for religious reasons do not accept banked blood but accept the use of autotransfusion devices. Patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia could avoid exposure to a donor’s transfused red blood cells. An intraoperative autotransfusion cell saver collects the shedded blood, and washes and centrifugally separates out the erythrocytes. After this procedure red blood cells are reinfused. Cell salvage offers many advantages over transfusion of homologous blood, but fears remains over its use in obstetrics where should be restricted to rare cases in which there is no alternative to provide red blood cells for oxygen transport. Cost savings occur when there is a high blood loss and a high erythrocyte salvage rate. The current views on autologous autotransfusions using cell savers are discussed.