Assessment of a new ultrafiltration blood processing system.
OBJECTIVE
To report our clinical experience with a new blood processing device which uses ultrafiltration. We assessed safety and efficacy by evaluating: 1 ) the quality and the quantity of intraoperative shed blood processed and reinfused to the patient 2) homologous blood requirements 3) clinical status of the patient post-transfusion.


METHODS
With Ethics Committee approval, the ultrafiltration device was used in six consenting patients undergoing major elective spinal surgery. Blood samples for haematology and biochemistry tests were collected from patients post-induction of anaesthesia (baseline), 1 hr and 24 hr post-autotransfusion. Volumes of blood collected and processed, and all autologous and homologous transfusions were recorded. Patients were assessed post-operatively for any adverse effects.


RESULTS
Five patients had donated blood preoperatively. One patient required homologous blood products in addition to autologous blood. In two patients, the filtration cartridge became blocked and required changing midprocessing. No patient sustained device-related complications. One patient had postoperative haematuria which resolved spontaneously within two hours.


CONCLUSIONS
The ultrafiltration device was safe and effective in reducing homologous blood requirements in six patients undergoing elective spinal surgery. Further evaluation of the ultrafiltration device will be necessary, especially in view of the blockage of the filtration cartridge.
Duffy
C M
CM
Department of Anaesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto Hospital, Ontario.
Manninen
P H
PH
Chung
F
F
Fehlings
M G
MG
Wright
T A
TA
D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000601:surgery; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000295:instrumentation*