What is Cell Salvage?

Patients receive their own blood for transfusion. The patient’s blood lost from a surgical site is collected, washed, and then reinfused.

When to use Cell Salvage1-3

  • Anticipated blood loss of 20% or greater of the patient’s blood volume

  • Greater than 10% of patients undergoing procedure require transfusion

  • Average transfusion for procedure exceeds 1 unit

  • Procedures with routine type and cross

  • Crossmatch-compatible blood is unobtainable

  • Individualized, based on patient’s hemoglobin, hematocrit, gender, age, bodyweight

  • Religious objection to allogeneic blood (e.g., Jehovah’s Witness)

 
 
      

Can be
performed
postoperatively

      
 
 

Cardiac
Orthopaedics
Plastics
Neurosurgery
Urology
OB/GYN
Vascular
Trauma
Transplant
General

Benefits of Cell Salvage4

  • Avoids or reduces complications associated with allogeneic blood transfusion

  • Blood is readily available

  • Compatible source for patients with multiple alloantibodies or rare blood types

  • Eases the demand on the allogeneic blood supply

  • Patients with religious objections to allogeneic transfusion may accept recovered blood when handled appropriately

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References

  1. Reeder, G.D., & Waters, J.H. (2008). Intraoperative Blood Recovery. In Blood Management: Options for Better Patient Care (pp. 207-240). Bethesda, MD: AABB Press

  2. Esper, S.A., & Waters, J.H. (2011). Intra-operative cell salvage: a fresh look at the indications and contraindications. Blood Transfusion = Trasfusione del sangue, 9(2), 139-147. doi:10.2450/2011.0081-10

  3. Autologous Transfusion Committee. Guidelines for blood recovery and reinfusion in surgery and trauma. AABB, Bethesda, MD: 1997.

  4. Autologous Transfusion Committee. Guidelines for blood recovery and reinfusion in surgery and trauma. AABB, Bethesda, MD: 2010.