The cell saver machine collects lost blood from the surgical site, separates out the red blood cells, washes them, and reinfuses them back to the patient. It has four main stages: collection by aspirating blood into an anticoagulated reservoir, separation using centrifugation to isolate RBCs from other components, washing with saline to remove waste, and reinfusion of the washed packed RBCs back to the patient. It is used when large blood loss is anticipated during surgery or for patients with rare blood types or transfusion risks.

1. Cell Saver

2. The cell saver (Autotransfusion) is a
machine used to collect lost blood from the
operative field and Seperate RBC’s from
whole blood, then washes them reinfuse
them back to the patient as a red blood
cells.

3. Indication for use:
-Patient has a rare blood groups or multiple antibodies.
-The anticipated blood loss during surgical procedure is large.
-Patient has risk factors for bleeding.
-Low preoperative hemoglobin.
-Patients are unwilling to receive donor blood, for moral,
religious or other reasons.

5. Contraindications For Use:
-Blood contaminated with bacterial infections.
-Patient has sickle cell disease, or abnormal red cell disorders.
-Patient has malignant cells.
-Blood contaminated with gastrointestinal contents in the
surgical field (aspirated gastrointestinal contents into the system
may cause enzymatic hemolysis.

6. Processing Stages :
-There are four main processing stages of the Intra
operative cell saver:
1.Collection. 2. Separation.
3.Washing. 4.Reinfusion.

7. 1.Collection :
Blood is aspirated and mixed with anticoagulant
through an aspiration and anticoagulation line, into
a collection reservoir. The collection reservoir
contains a filter that removes clots and other gross
particulate matter.

8. 2.Separation :
The reservoir contents are pumped into a spinning
centrifugal system. The RBC component is retained within
the bowl while the lighter components are forced out into a
waste line. As the reservoir contents continues to enter the
system and separate,the Hct within the system increases.

9. 3.Washing :
In some systems, optical sensors are positioned to detect a
precise Hct during automatic mode. When this Hct is reached,
the machine trips into the wash stage.Normal saline is pumped
into the spinning centrifugal system, passing through the heavier
RBC component and out into the waste line displacing the
remaining waste products (anticoagulant debris, Free
hemoglibin, plasma etc.).

10. 4.Reinfusion :
The end product of washed, packed, RBC’s suspended
in normal saline is pumped into a bag ready for infusion.