Autotransfusion
Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, perform the critical function of delivering oxygen to body tissues. When native levels are low (whether due to surgical loss, traumatic injury, or otherwise), homologous (donor) blood [red blood cell] transfusions can be life saving, but in many instances can create complications deleterious to the patient’s clinical outcome. Prior to resorting to homologous transfusions, many health care providers do everything possible to salvage the patient’s own blood to deliver autologous red blood cells.
This practice, known as autotransfusion (commonly referred to as “cell saving”), is clinically beneficial by providing necessary red blood cells and their oxygen carrying capacity without the negative affects a tissue donation (transfusion) can cause. Not surprisingly, it also happens to be cost effective medicine.
Autotransfusion can be utilized in a wide array of procedures including:
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Trauma
- & More
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