title: Effects of the Sangvia blood collection system on patients undergoing elective hip surgery.
abstract: We have conducted a randomized controlled study where 164 patients were randomized to receive autologous salvaged blood collected by Sangvia™ Blood Salvage System or allogeneic red cell concentrates if transfusion was indicated by clinical judgement. The study was powered to detect if transfusion of autologous blood reduced the occurrence of postoperative infections. We found no statistical significant difference in postoperative infection rate between the groups, but this may be due to the fact that postoperative infections were diagnosed in only five patients. Increased C-reactive protein concentrations slightly above level of significance indicate that autologous blood transfusions stimulate the patient's immune system. However, there was no indication of increased transfusion reaction rate, including febrile reactions, in the autologous group. Transfusion of autologous blood did not reduce the use of allogeneic red cell concentrates. The mean use of allogeneic red cell concentrates was 0.93 units (both groups combined), indicating that the transfusion policy may have been too liberal. There was a highly significant inverse correlation between pre-operative haemoglobin concentration and transfusion of allogeneic blood. In a patient population with a low frequency of postoperative infection, a larger study is needed to clarify if autologous salvaged blood protects against postoperative infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Stord Hospital, Helse Fonna HF, Norway.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teetzmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Stord Hospital, Helse Fonna HF, Norway.
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Helse-Bergen HF, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liseth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Opheim
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Helse-Bergen HF, Norway; Institute of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: tor.hervig@helse-bergen.no.
authors.forename: Tor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hervig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057725:Operative Blood Salvage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control