Experience of Intraoperative Cell Salvage in Surgical Correction of Spinal Deformity: A Retrospective Review of 124 Patients

The effect of intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) in surgical correction of spinal deformity remained controversial. This study was to quantitatively demonstrate its effect. In all, 124 patients having ICS in surgical correction of spinal deformity were included. These patients would be divided into 3 groups. Group 1—blood loss less than 15 mL/kg; group 2—between 15 and 37.5 mL/kg; and group 3—more than 37.5 mL/kg. The mean blood loss was 37.2 mL/kg and patients received 872.2 mL salvaged blood on average. The prevalence of intraoperative transfusion of allogenic RBC was 62.9% and the amount averaged 3.4 U. In groups 1 to 3, the prevalence of intraoperative allogenic transfusion was 23.5%, 66.7%, and 100%, respectively. Logistic analysis showed blood loss minus autotransfusion was of significance in predicting intraoperative transfusion, whereas the blood loss or autotransfusion alone was not, implicating an important role of ICS in saving allogenic RBC. The maximum decrease of hemoglobin after operation occurred in the third day, and the magnitude was 45.7 g/L. No severe complications related to ICS were observed. In summary, ICS could decrease the amount of allogenic transfusion in surgical correction of spinal deformity. However, in terms of reducing prevalence of allogenic transfusion, it had a protective effect only in patients with small blood loss.