Objective: Intraoperative cell salvage for children undergoing open heart surgery has been enabled by the recent introduction of smaller reservoirs. We are showing the effectiveness of this method in paediatric open heart surgery.
Methods: Between November 2004 and December 2008, 28 patients underwent open heart surgery with the use of a intraoperative cell saver system. Patients weight ranged from 3.4 to 80kg with mean BW of 33.8 kg. 22 patients underwent different re-do operations, 3 patients were Jehowa’s witnesses and 3 patients had preoperative haematological disorders. In all patients conventional or modified ultrafiltration was used. Residual volume of the circuit was salvaged. Laboratory tests (haematocrit, platelet count, fibrinogen, ACT, PT, APTT), postoperative bleeding and blood products administration were compared with a control group.
Results: The use of blood and blood products and postoperative bleeding was significantly decreased in the cell saver group. Haematocrit was the only parameter which showed significant difference in the compared laboratory results. Jehowa’s witnesses received salvaged blood and their haematocrit was above 35 in all 3 cases.
Conclusion: The use of the cell saver system can be safely used in the paediatric open heart surgery. It can decrease the administration of allogenic transfusion and other blood products, increase intraoperative safety in redo operations and can minimize intraoperative risks in specific cases.