1.
Cost-Effectiveness of Cell Salvage in Trauma Blood Transfusions
Beeton G, Zagales I, Ngatuvai M, Atoa A, Wajeeh H, Hoops H, Smith CP, Elkbuli A
The American surgeon. 2023;:31348231175124
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the increasing amount of evidence supporting its use, cell salvage (CS) remains an underutilized resource in operative trauma care in many hospitals. We aim to evaluate the utilization of CS in adult trauma patients and associated outcomes to provide evidence-based recommendations. METHODS A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL. Articles evaluating clinical outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of trauma patients utilizing CS were included. The primary study outcome was mortality rates. The secondary outcomes included complication rates (sepsis and infection) and ICU-LOS. The tertiary outcome was the cost-effectiveness of CS. RESULTS This systematic review included 9 studies that accounted for a total of 1119 patients that received both CS and allogeneic transfusion (n = 519), vs allogeneic blood transfusions only (n = 601). In-hospital mortality rates ranged from 13% to 67% in patients where CS was used vs 6%-65% in those receiving allogeneic transfusions only; however, these findings were not significantly different (P = .21-.56). Similarly, no significant differences were found between sepsis and infection rates or ICU-LOS in those patients where CS usage was compared to allogeneic transfusions alone. Of the 4 studies that provided comparisons on cost, 3 found the use of CS to be significantly more cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS Cell salvage can be used as an effective method of blood transfusion for trauma patients without compromising patient outcomes, in addition to its possible cost advantages. Future studies are needed to further investigate the long-term effects of cell salvage utilization in trauma patients.
PICO Summary
Population
Adult trauma patients (9 studies, n= 1,119).
Intervention
Cell salvage and allogeneic transfusion.
Comparison
Allogeneic blood transfusion.
Outcome
In-hospital mortality rates ranged from 13% to 67% in patients where cell salvage was used vs. 6%-65% in those receiving allogeneic transfusions only. These findings were not significantly different. No significant differences were found between sepsis and infection rates or intensive care unit length-of-stay in those patients where cell salvage usage was compared to allogeneic transfusions alone. Of the four studies that provided comparisons on cost, three found the use of cell salvage to be significantly more cost-effective.
2.
Cell salvage in emergency trauma surgery
Li J, Sun SL, Tian JH, Yang K, Liu R, Li J
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;((1):):CD007379.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trauma is the leading cause of death in people under the age of 45 years. Over the past 20 years, intraoperative autologous transfusions (obtained by cell salvage, also known as intraoperative blood salvage (IBS)) have been used as an alternative to blood products from other individuals during surgery because of the risk of transfusion-related infections such as hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this review, we sought to assess the effects and cost of cell salvage in individuals undergoing abdominal or thoracic surgery. OBJECTIVES To compare the effect and cost of cell salvage with those of standard care in individuals undergoing abdominal or thoracic trauma surgery. SEARCH METHODS We ran the search on 25 November 2014. We searched the Cochrane Injuries Group's Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily and Ovid OLDMEDLINE, EMBASE Classic + EMBASE (OvidSP), PubMed, and ISI Web of Science (SCI-Expanded & CPSI-SSH). We also screened reference lists and contacted principal investigators. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials comparing cell salvage with no cell salvage (standard care) in individuals undergoing abdominal or thoracic trauma surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently extracted data from the trial reports. We used the standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. MAIN RESULTS Only one small study (n = 44) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results suggested that cell salvage did not affect mortality overall (death rates were 67% (14/21 participants) in the cell salvage group and 65% (15/23) in the control group) (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31 to 3.72). For individuals with abdominal injury, mortality was also similar in both groups (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.11 to 2.10).Less donor blood was needed for transfusion within the first 24 hours postinjury in the cell salvage group compared with the control group (mean difference (MD) -4.70 units, 95% CI -8.09 to -1.31). Adverse events, notably postoperative sepsis, did not differ between groups (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.11 to 2.55). Cost did not notably differ between groups (MD -177.81, 95% CI -452.85 to 97.23, measured in GBP in 2002). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Evidence for the use of cell salvage in individuals undergoing abdominal or thoracic trauma surgery remains equivocal. Large, multicentre, methodologically rigorous trials are needed to assess the relative efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of cell salvage in different surgical procedures in the emergency context.
3.
Intraoperative blood salvage in penetrating abdominal trauma: a randomised, controlled trial
Bowley DM, Barker P, Boffard KD
World Journal of Surgery. 2006;30((6):):1074-80.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood is a scarce and costly resource. Transfusion is often required after major trauma but blood may not be readily available, and concerns remain over the potential adverse consequences of allogeneic blood transfusion. Intraoperative blood salvage (IBS) is used extensively after blunt abdominal trauma, but when blood is contaminated by enteric contents its use has been considered contraindicated. METHODS This was a randomised, controlled trial conducted with Ethical Review Board approval in an inner city trauma unit. Patients with penetrating torso injury requiring a laparotomy and who had exhibited hypotension either pre-hospital or on arrival and in whom there was considered to be significant blood loss were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The control group was given allogeneic blood transfusion at the discretion of the attending medical staff. The cell save (CS) group underwent IBS with transfusion of both allogeneic and autologous blood. All patients received prophylactic antibiotics. The primary outcome was exposure to allogeneic blood up to the first 24 hours postinjury. RESULTS Twenty-three patients were entered into the control group and 21 into the CS group. The groups were equivalent in demographic details, injury patterns and injury severity. The mean volume of salvaged blood re-infused in the CS group was 1,493 ml (range 0-2,690 ml). The mean number of units of allogeneic blood transfused in the first 24 hours in the control group was 11. 17 compared to 6. 47 in the CS group (P=0. 008). Enteric injury had been sustained in 17/23 (75%) of the control group and 18/21 (85%) of the CS group (P=NS). Survival in the control group was 8/23 (35%) compared to 7/21 (33. 3%) in the CS arm (P=NS). Patients with documented postoperative sepsis were significantly more likely to die compared to those without sepsis (P=0. 04); however, those patients in the CS arm were no more likely to develop sepsis compared to those who received allogeneic blood alone. CONCLUSION In this randomised, controlled trial for patients with penetrating abdominal injuries, IBS led to a significant reduction in allogeneic blood usage with no discernable effect on rates of postoperative infection or mortality.