The Role of the Cell Saber in the Intraoperative Period in Response to Bleeding During the Postoperative Period

Purpose: The risk of bleeding in Cardiac surgery is high, thus, it is necessary to transfuse blood products in the majority of cases. The Cell Saver (CS), when used during the intraoperative is an alternative helping reduce the need for homologous transfusion of blood products in cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation (EC). Our objective is to investigate whether the use of the CS in the intraoperative period, increases or decreases the rate of hemorrhages during the postoperative period. Methods: We studied 162 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with EC and CS at the University Hospital. Analyzing variables of the CS in the intraoperative period, and postoperative bleeding are also reviewed. Results: 71.6 % of the patients had no episodes of bleeding, while 28.4% had. Profile of the patients: 59.3 % males and 40.7 % women, with a mean age of 61.99 years. Surgical procedures: replacement / repair of the aortic valve (37.7 %), mitral valve (15.4 %, tricuspid valve 2.5 and more than two surgical procedures in the same patient (27.1 %). The CS, average volume of autologous blood recovered and processed was 1800 ml. being 580 ml. of red blood cells, the average volume obtained and reinfused again in the patient. Conclusion: More than half of the patients who underwent cardiac surgery with EC, and the use of CS had no episodes of bleeding in the immediate postoperative period. The profile of patients treated were mainly overweight men of advanced ages undergoing surgery for aortic valve surgery.