Cell salvage is beneficial for all cardiac surgical patients: arguments for and against.

Extensive literature has been published evaluating the use of cell salvage in cardiac surgery. However, the most recently published blood management guidelines do not give unequivocal direction on the use of cell salvage in cardiac surgical procedures and neither do recent meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials. In part, this reflects variation in the details of how cell salvage is used, including the specific equipment chosen. Consensus on the optimal approach to cell salvage would be helpful. A well-designed, appropriately powered, multicenter study could then be carried out with one or more specified devices to evaluate the efficacy of this agreed approach to cell salvage in the cardiac surgical environment.