Washing of banked blood by three different blood salvage devices

Abstract

Autotransfusion devices offer a practical and obviously economical option to wash banked RBCs intraoperatively to prevent hyperkalemia and other disturbances in massive transfusion or pediatric patients. Predilution improves elimination rates, especially in devices that produce high product Hct levels. With a Y-tubing the RBCs should bypass reservoir and vacuum, and the procedure should be guarded by a policy and procedure manual and a quality management system.