Complement split products and proinflammatory cytokines in intraoperatively salvaged unwashed blood during hip replacement: comparison between heparin‐coated and non‐heparin‐coated autotransfusion systems

Abstract

The present study indicates that the blood salvaged intraoperatively contains elevated levels of complement split product and proinflammatory cytokines and that heparin-coated surfaces of the salvage device do not significantly influence the formation of inflammatory mediators.