Outline the characteristics of blood obtained by cell salvage

Outline the characteristics of blood obtained by cell salvage.

Salvaged autologous blood differs from banked blood and other sources of autologous blood in many ways. Salvaged autologous blood is basically a suspension of red cells in saline. The Hct of salvaged blood may vary depend-ing on the amount of blood collected from the field but is typically in the 50–60% range. Once processed, salvaged blood contains essentially no clotting factors or platelets. If large volumes of salvaged blood are used to replace surgi-cal blood loss, dilutional thrombocytopenia and low levels of clotting factors may result. Salvaged blood does not exhibit the storage lesion that is present in banked blood (Table 51.3). The 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) level of salvaged blood is normal, and it does not exhibit the low pH, elevated potassium, and microaggregate formation found in banked blood. Chromium-labeling studies have shown that salvaged red cells have normal survival times in the body once they are reinfused. Furthermore, indices of red cell viability, such as resistance to osmotic stress, are superior in salvaged blood compared with banked blood.