title: Autotransfusion in aortic surgery: the Haemocell System 350 cell saver.
abstract: Autotransfusion was performed during elective abdominal aortic reconstruction in ten patients using the recently developed Haemocell System 350. A mean of 60 per cent of total blood loss was salvaged, and during operation each patient was autotransfused 1 unit. Good preservation of cellular components, including platelets, was seen after processing with the device, which uses a vortex mixing filter for cell separation. There was no evidence of coagulopathy; mean free plasma haemoglobin levels were slightly raised (17 mg/dl) and plasma heparin concentration was negligible (0.10 units/ml) 4 h after surgery. A transient drop in plasma fibrinogen levels and the appearance of fibrin degradation products in low concentrations (mean 1.5 mg/l) were seen. Oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curves showed the salvaged red blood cells to have a normal affinity for oxygen. Renal and hepatic function remained unaltered and there were no complications attributable to autotransfusion. The device was easy to handle and a trained operator was not required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beech
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: al-Khaffaf
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charlesworth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins