Original Article

Heparin Content of Cell-Salvaged Blood After Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas

^* Address correspondence to: Evan G. Pivalizza, MBChB, FFA Department of Anesthesiology University of Texas Health Science Center 6431 Fannin, 5.020 Houston, TX 77030

Abstract

Blood remaining in the extracorporeal circuit (ECC) is frequently concentrated and washed before transfusion to the patient after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass. As additional doses of protamine are often administered to reverse the effects of suspected heparin content of this blood, we determined activated clotting times (ACTs) and heparin concentration pre and post cell salvaged blood administration. After a I liter normal saline wash, administration of the cells obtained using the Cobe Baylor Rapid Autologous Transfusion (BRAT) system caused no change in either patient ACT (p=0.19) or plasma heparin concentrations. We conclude that additional protamine administration is unwarranted after transfusion of concentrated, washed red blood cells (RBCs) from the ECC with the Cobe BRAT cell salvage device.