Acute haemolysis following perioperative blood salvage in a children operated for the surgical correction of a craniosynostosis.

We report the case of a 6-month-old child, who suffered from acute haemolys is following transfusion of salvaged blood. This complication, of favourabl e outcome, was related to the accidental aspiration of benzalkonium chlorid e into the cell saver. This case emphasizes that any adjunction of antisept ic solution is contraindicated during blood saving. The use of a cell saver must be associated with written protocols, describing clearly the contrain dications, precautions of use, and the different steps of use of this metho d of autologous blood transfusion. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medic ales Elsevier SAS.