What is a Cell Saver?

Cell savers are medical devices used during surgical procedures to collect, filter, and return a patient’s own blood back to their body. The main purpose of a cell saver is to minimize the amount of blood loss that occurs during surgery and reduce the need for blood transfusions.

How Does It Work?

During a surgical procedure, blood is lost from the patient’s body and collects in the surgical field. A cell saver is used to collect this blood and filter out any debris or unwanted materials, such as fat. The filtered blood is then washed and/or treated with anticoagulants to prevent it from clotting. Once the blood has been processed, it is returned to the patient’s body through an IV line.

Types of Cell Savers:

There are two main types of cell savers:
i. Autotransfusion cell savers and allogenic cell savers. Autotransfusion cell savers are used to collect blood from the patient’s surgical field and return it back to the patient.

ii. Allogenic cell savers are used to process and filter blood obtained from a blood bank and returning it to the patient.

Pros and Cons:

Cell savers have a number of advantages over traditional blood transfusions. For one, using a cell saver can significantly reduce the amount of blood loss during surgery, which can lower the risk of complications. Additionally, using a cell saver allows a patient to receive their own blood, rather than a blood transfusion from a donor, which can lower the risk of complications associated with blood transfusions, such as infections and allergic reactions. Beyond Beauty Plastic Surgery clinic uses Cell Savers to make sure there is no to minimum blood loss of our patients.

Cell savers also have some limits and potential downsides. The process of collecting, filtering, and returning the blood can take some time, which can prolong the surgical procedure. Additionally, there is some risk of contamination of the collected blood if proper sterilization and infection control measures are not followed. Finally, the cost of the cell savers and the disposable components used with them can be high, which may make the use of cell savers cost-prohibitive in some cases. Dr. Stefan is specialised surgeon with many years of experience handling these types of equipments, so patient here always feel comfortable.

Applications:

Cell savers are commonly used in a variety of surgical procedures, including liposuction, orthopaedic surgery, cardiac surgery, and spine surgery. It is also used in Trauma surgery where bleeding may occur. Some cell savers are portable, which allows them to be used in emergency situations or in remote locations.

Summary:

Overall, cell savers are a useful medical device that can significantly reduce blood loss during surgery and lower the need for blood transfusions. However, it should be used with caution, with proper sterilization and infection control protocols. As with any medical device, it’s important to weigh the benefits and risks in order to make the best decision for the patient.

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