Sangre autóloga a reinfundir con el recuperador celular a pacientes cardíacos en respuesta a las transfusiones sanguíneas

Introduction and objetives

The cell saver is an alternative to blood transfusions according to the existing evidence. However, there is no evidence to determine the time of reinfusion of red blood cells in line with transfusions. Our objective was to analyze the evidence on the effectiveness of the cell saver to reduce blood transfusions.

Methods

Randomized clinical trial with 91 patients in a non-exposed group (reinfusion of autologous blood with the cell saver was performed at the end of surgery) and 80 patients exposed group (reinfusion of autologous blood was performed continuously during surgery). Variables were collected at three moments (preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative).

Results

Both haemoglobin and haematocrit were lower in the unexposed group when compared to the exposed group, both during after surgery (p=.011 and.018, respectively), and blood transfusions were higher in the unexposed group both during, and after surgery (p=.001).

Conclusions

In order to reduce the transfusion rate of cardiac patients as much as possible, the optimal time to reinfuse autologous blood from the cell saver should be during the surgery, according to a continuous reinfusion protocol.