OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intraoperative blood salvage autotransfusion on local recurrence and long-term metastasis of patients after carotid body tumor resection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 61 patients undergoing elective carotid body tumor resection from August 2009 to December 2020. Among them, 14 received intraoperative blood salvage autotransfusion (autotrasfusion group) and 47 did not (non-autotransfusion). Data of general information, surgical status and postoperative follow-up results were collected. RESULTS: The proportion of Shamblin Ⅲ in the autotransfusion group was 85.7%, which was significantly higher than 31.9% in the non-autotransfusion group (P=0.003). The average operation time of the 14 patients in the autotransfusion group was (264±84) min, intraoperative blood loss was 1 200 (700, 2 700) mL, and autologous blood transfusion was 500 (250, 700) mL. Of these, 8 patients (57%) required concomitant allogeneic blood with 400 (260, 400) mL of allogeneic blood. The average operation time of the 47 patients in the non-autotransfusion group was (153±75) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was 300 (100, 400) mL. Of these, 6 (13%) required allogeneic blood transfusion, and 520 (400, 520) mL of allogeneic blood was used. Compared with the non-autotransfusion group, the average operation time in the autologous blood transfusion group was significantly longer (P < 0.001), and the intraoperative blood transfusion volume was larger (P=0.007). Of the 14 patients undergoing autotransfusion, 8 (57%) needed allogeneic blood at the same time; while in the 47 non-autologous transfusion patients, 6 (13%) needed allogeneic blood transfusion. The proportion of autotransfusion group using allogeneic blood at the same time was even higher (P=0.002). The incidence of nerve injury within 30 days after surgery was 29.5%, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. No early deaths occurred. The average follow-up was (76±37) months. One case of local recurrence occurred in the non-autotransfusion group. There was no distant metastasis. There were no tumor-related deaths. The estimated 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 96.4% and 83.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the two groups (P=0.506). CONCLUSION The use of intraoperative blood salvage autotransfusion increased no risk of local recurrence and distant metastasis in patients with carotid body tumor, which is safe and effective in carotid body tumor resection.
Humans ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous/methods* ; Operative Blood Salvage/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Carotid Body Tumor/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Aged ; Adult ; Operative Time

Antibodies to high-incidence red blood cell antigens should be considered if panagglutination reactions are noted in all panel cells, and negative reactions to autologous red blood cells are detected on antibody screening and identification tests. In Korea, most of those antibodies are identified through international reference laboratories. To prevent a hemolytic transfusion reaction, antigen-negative red cells should be provided for those patients who have antibodies to red cell antigens. However, this is nearly impossible when the antibody has specificity to high-incidence red cell antigen. In those cases, transfusion of autologous blood, cryopreserved rare blood and the least incompatible blood components can be considered. In the case of surgery, acute normovolemic hemodilution or intraoperative blood salvage can also be considered. For the patients who have antibodies to high-incidence red cell antigens, it should be discussed to set up a national reference laboratory to quickly identify antibody specificities, and to consider establishing rare blood donor registry and frozen rare blood storage/supply system. This article reviews characteristics of antibodies to high-incidence antigens found in Koreans and also the transfusion experiences of those patients based on literature.
Antibodies ; Antibody Specificity ; Blood Donors ; Erythrocytes ; Hemodilution ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Operative Blood Salvage ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transfusion Reaction

Preoperative anemia should be diagnosed and treated before surgery, because anemia is associated with increased postoperative mortality and morbidity. Even if iron deficiency is not detected, the possibility of functional iron deficiency should be considered. During surgery, patients should be managed to avoid hypothermia, acidosis, and hypocalcemia, while maintaining adequate blood pressure and preventing dilutional coagulopathy. It is currently recommended to start transfusion when hemoglobin is under 7–8 g/dL in patients without cardiac problems, using restrictive strategy rather than liberal, due to dangers of complications from transfusion. For those who refuse transfusion, or when transfusion is difficult due to multiple antibodies, or when attempting to reduce allogeneic transfusion, preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD), intraoperative acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH), intraoperative blood salvage, or postoperative blood salvage can be used. For patients with trauma or massive bleeding, damage control resuscitation of permissive hypotension, restriction of crystalloid infusion, transfusion of blood product in a ratio similar to whole blood (1:1:1 of FFP, platelets, PRBC) must be actively carried out.
Acidosis ; Anemia ; Antibodies ; Blood Donors ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Transfusion ; Hemodilution ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypotension ; Hypothermia ; Iron ; Mortality ; Operative Blood Salvage ; Resuscitation

Increasingly, autologous blood transfusion has been arousing concern owing to awareness of adverse effects of allogenic blood transfusion, blood shortage and patients, having religious or personal issues. With the development of medicine, Cell Salvage and Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) has been proposed as an alternative to allogenic blood transfusion. This review looked at the use of ANH and cell salvage and evaluated the benefits and usefulness based on the strengths and indications. Although not consistent with all cases of ANH, there were benefits in the amount of hemorrhage and transfusion, and no supplementary plasma or platelet transfusion was needed after surgery when employing ANH. But, it showed a cutoff value only for massive bleeding surgery (at least 500 mL). In the case of cell salvage, the amount of blood transfusion was reduced in most cases and platelet or plasma transfusion was not required in most cases. When the Leukoreduction filter (LDF) was utilized, it showed the effect of removing bacterial infection or tumor cells. Nonetheless, the effectiveness and benefits for patients in certain condition of cell salvage and ANH is ambiguous with discrepancies among studies or patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide clinical knowledge relative to the procedure, measure the efficacy and usefulness of peri-operative blood management mentioned above and discuss the forthcoming prospects and challenges.
Bacterial Infections ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Transfusion ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; Hemodilution ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Operative Blood Salvage ; Plasma ; Platelet Transfusion

Liver transplantation is especially challenging in patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses because their religious beliefs prohibit the receipt of blood products. We present two cases of living donor liver transplantation performed in adult Jehovah's Witnesses in South Korea without the use of blood products. In the first case, preoperative erythropoiesisstimulation therapy increased hemoglobin levels from 8.1 to 13.1 g/dl after 9 weeks. In the second case, hemoglobin levels increased from 7.4 to 10.8 g/dl after 6 months of erythropoiesis-stimulation therapy. With the combination of acute normovolemic hemodilution, intraoperative cell salvage, and use of transfusion alternatives, liver transplantation was successfully performed without transfusion of blood products.
Adult ; Bloodless Medical and Surgical Procedures ; Hemodilution ; Humans ; Jehovah's Witnesses* ; Korea ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors ; Operative Blood Salvage ; Religion

INTRODUCTIONIntraoperative cell salvage (ICS) is an important aspect of patient blood management programmes. An ICS service was introduced at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, from 2 May 2011 to 30 April 2013 to aid in the management of massive obstetric haemorrhage.

METHODSWith support from the Ministry of Health's Healthcare Quality Improvement and Innovation Fund, a workgroup comprising obstetricians, anaesthetists and nursing staff was formed to develop training requirements, clinical guidelines and protocols for implementing ICS using the Haemonetics Cell Saver 5. Pregnant women with an anticipated blood loss of > 1,000 mL during Caesarean delivery, a baseline haemoglobin level of < 10 g/dL, rare blood types and who had refused donor blood were recruited to the service after obtaining informed consent.

RESULTSA total of 11 women were recruited to the ICS service; the primary indications were placenta praevia and placenta accreta. Median blood loss in these 11 patients was 1,500 (range 400-3,000) mL. In four patients, adequate autologous blood was collected to initiate processing and salvaged, processed blood was successfully reinfused (mean 381.3 [range 223.0-700.0] mL). Median blood loss among these four patients was 2,000 (range 2,000-3,000) mL. No adverse event occurred following autologous transfusion. Mean immediate postoperative haemoglobin level was 8.0 (range 7.1-9.4) g/dL.

CONCLUSIONThe implementation of an obstetric ICS service in our institution was successful. Future studies should seek to address the cost-effectiveness of ICS in reducing allogeneic blood utilisation.

Blood Preservation ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; methods ; standards ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Hemorrhage ; therapy ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; methods ; standards ; Operative Blood Salvage ; methods ; standards ; Placenta Accreta ; therapy ; Placenta Previa ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Pregnancy ; Program Development ; Program Evaluation ; Singapore ; Tertiary Care Centers

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of acute hypervolemic hemodilution (AHH) and intraoperative blood salvage (IOBS) on the morphology and biomechanics of erythrocytes using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

METHODSBlood samples were collected from 20 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery before operation (T1), immediately after AHH (T2), and after blood salvage (T3). AFM at nanometer resolution was used to examine the morphology and biomechanics of the collected erythrocytes.

RESULTSThe blood samples collected at T1 showed a significantly lower ratio of heteromorphous erythrocytes than those collected at T2 and T3 [(2.6∓1.3)% vs (19.3∓1.6)% and (17.6∓1.4)%, P<0.05]. AFM revealed significant differences in the morphology and biomechanics of the single erythrocyte in salvaged blood and blood after AHH compared with those of venous blood.

CONCLUSIONAHH and IOBS may cause significant changes in the morphology and biomechanics of erythrocytes in the salvaged blood.

Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Hemodilution ; Humans ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Operative Blood Salvage

OBJECTIVE: Patient' desire of transfusion free surgery has been increasing due to blood transfusion risks. We analyzed the perioperative parameters and perioperative management of transfusion free surgical treatment in Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital. METHODS: Operation quantity and blood unstoring count from blood bank between 2000 and 2012 were collected from chronological records. Perioperative parameters including preoperative hemoglobin level, postoperative hemoglobin level, and lowest hemoglobin level were collected from medical records. Perioperative blood management such as acute normovolemic hemodilution, intraoperative blood cell salvage, or hematinic agents and complication were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 3,088 patients underwent transfusion free surgery at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital between 2000 and 2012. Postoperative hemoglobin level <5.0 g/dL were 33 patients. Four patients expired at postoperative period with serious perioperative complications. Average of expired patient's hemoglobin was 3.22 g/dL and overall mortality was 0.12%. Operation was increased as years go by. The amount of blood use bank wasn't increased in general patients with transfusion. CONCLUSION: Careful perioperative blood management for transfusion free surgical treatment was responsible for safety and results in good clinical outcomes. Overall transfusion rate was decreased in spite of increasing operation quantity.
Blood Banks ; Blood Transfusion ; Bloodless Medical and Surgical Procedures ; Hemin ; Hemodilution ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Operative Blood Salvage ; Perioperative Care ; Postoperative Period ; Seoul

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PURPOSE: There has been no research examining the use of intraoperative cell salvage during metastatic spinal surgery. The present work is a pilot study investigating the role of cell salvage during metastatic spine surgery. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There is no spinal literature about role of cell salvage and autologus transfusion in metastatic spinal cancer. METHODS: Sixteen spinal metastases patients who received red cell salvage using a leucocyte depletion filter were enrolled. Of these, ten patients who received salvaged blood transfusion were included in the final analysis. Data collection involved looking at the case notes, operating room records and the prospectively updated metastatic spinal cancer database maintained in the spinal department. Cell salvage data was recovered from the central cell salvage database maintained in the anesthetic department. RESULTS: Amount of salvaged blood ranged from 120 to 600 mL (average, 318 mL). The average drop in hemoglobin was 1.65 units (range, 0.4-2.7 units). Three patients (30%) required postoperative allogenic blood transfusion. The average follow up was 9.5 months (range, 6-6 months). One patient developed new lung metastasis, at seven months. No patient developed new liver metastases. Preoperatively, six patients had diffuse skeletal metastases. Of this subgroup, three developed new skeletal metastases. No cases showed any wound related problems in the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: In our study transfusion of intraoperatively salvaged blood did not result in disseminated metastatic cancer. We would suggest that red cell salvage might have a role during metastatic spine surgery.
Blood Transfusion ; Cohort Studies ; Data Collection ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Operating Rooms ; Operative Blood Salvage ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spine

BACKGROUND: In the case of bilateral total knee replacement arthroplasty (TKA), surgery is performed either simultaneously or in a staged manner. We tried to investigate the differences of blood loss and transfusion practice between the use of simultaneous and staged operations. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the medical records of 20 patients undergoing simultaneous TKA (simultaneous group), who received autologous blood via a reinfusion system, and 20 patients undergoing staged TKA (staged group), of which the interval is about three weeks. We compared the amount of blood loss, and the number of transfusions and transfusion-related complications between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Postoperative total blood loss was 2,174 +/- 460 ml in the simultaneous group and 1,850 +/- 461 ml in the staged group. There was no significant difference for transfusion (simultaneous group 3.5 +/- 1.1 units, staged group 3.9 +/- 1.4 units; P > 0.05). In the simultaneous group, the volume of autologous transfusion was 985 +/- 326 ml, corresponding to 2.5 +/- 0.8 units. The total number of transfused RBC units including autologous blood was 6.1 +/- 1.5 units in the simultaneous group and 3.9 +/- 1.4 units in the staged group. In the staged group, the amount of postoperative drained blood was significantly less in the second knee operation than that in the first knee operation (first knee surgery, 992 +/- 265 ml; second knee surgery, 868 +/- 260 ml: P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative blood loss and total transfusion were less in the staged TKA group of patients as compared with the simultaneous TKA group of patients. Postoperative blood salvage and reinfusion appear to be safe and effective for patients undergoing simultaneous TKA.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Blood Transfusion ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Humans ; Knee ; Medical Records ; Operative Blood Salvage ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Retrospective Studies