title: The benefit of the Hemonetics cell saver apparatus during cardiac surgery.
abstract: This retrospective chart review of 155 patients having coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) over a two-month period determined whether the use of a cell saver apparatus (CSA) (1) reduced or increased the requirements for homologous blood; (2) increased the incidence of post-surgical bleeding; (3) was cost-effective. Two groups of patients were identified. Group 1 (n = 99) received both CSA processed red blood cells and homologous blood components. Requirement for homologous blood products was reduced in the first 24 hr after surgery (0.5 +/- 1.0 vs 1.3 +/- 1.8 units; P less than 0.05) when compared with Group 2 (n = 56) in whom only homologous blood products were utilized. More patients in Group 1 had no transfusion requirements (45 vs 8; P less than 0.05) and there was no increased risk of major haemorrhage. When the capital costs are included, utilization of the CSA was not cost-effective. We conclude that utilisation of a CSA was safe, with no increased risk of bleeding, reduced requirements for homologous blood transfusions, but added to the cost of the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Schweiger
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Finlayson
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors