ASSESSMENT OF A NEW ULTRAFILTRATION BLOOD PROCESSING SYSTEM

Purpose: To report our clinical experience with a new blood processing device which uses ultrafiltration. We assessed safety and efficacy by evaluating: 1) the quality and the quantity of intraoperative shed bl ood processed and reinfused to the patient 2) homologous blood require ments 3) clinical status of the patient post-transfusion. Methods: Wit h Ethics Committee approval, the ultrafiltration device was used in si x consenting patients under-going major elective spinal surgery. Blood sample for haematology and biochemistry tests were collected from pat ients post-induction of anaesthesia (baseline), 1 hr and 24 hr post-au totransfusion. Volumes of blood collected and processed, and all autol ogous and homologous transfusions were recorded, Patients were assesse d post-operatively for any adverse effects. Results: Five patients had donated blood preoperatively, One patient required homologous blood p roducts in addition to autologous blood, In two patients, the filtrati on cartridge became blocked required changing mid-processing, No patie nt sustained device-related complications, One patient had postoperati ve haematuria which resolved spontaneously within two hours. Conclusio n: The ultrainfiltration device was safe and effective in reducing hom ologous blood requirements in six patients undergoing elective spinal surgery. Further evaluation of the ultrafiltration device will be nece ssary, especially in view of the blockage of the filtration cartridge.