Experience With an Intraoperative Autogenous Blood Recovery System in Scoliosis and Spinal Surgery

Abstract

A clinical trial of an intraoperative autogenous blood recovery system shows that, while the method is safe, the cost in spinal surgery is quite high. The unit was used in 20 procedures in 18 patients thought to have increased risk of intraoperative bleeding (mature idiopathic, congenital, myelomeningocele, Marfan''s and irradiation scolioses, and late spinal fractures). Collection in 4 procedures was insufficient for use or contaminated. In the remaining 16 cases, 20% of the blood loss was recovered. A total of 10 U of blood was recovered at a cost of 283/U; this is 4x the current cost for a unit of blood in the local blood bank. The method would be more beneficial if a huge blood loss were anticipated, since most of its cost is incurred in the setup; the higher the blood loss at surgery, the higher the percentage yield might be. The method may be useful with rare blood types and for patients with religious objections to transfusions.