• Elizabeth A Forrest, Penny Togo, Alistair G Kan, and Shaun E De Cruz.
• From the Department of Anaesthetics, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
• Anesth. Analg. 2019 Jun 1; 128 (6): 127212781272-1278.

BackgroundData on red cell recovery (cell salvage) utilization in Australia are limited and national guidance is based on a single Australian audit conducted at a hospital that excludes cardiothoracic surgery. This clinical audit aimed to analyze the utility of red cell recovery at a tertiary health care facility which includes cardiothoracic surgery. Secondary aims of this study were to identify specific surgical procedures in which red cell recovery is most beneficial and to quantify this benefit.MethodsData were collected retrospectively on all adult red cell recovery surgical cases conducted at a 2-campus health care facility over a 2-year period. Case demographic data, including surgical procedure, red blood cell return, and hematocrit levels, were collated and analyzed against national cell salvage guidelines. Average return per procedure was collated into a red cell recovery benefit analysis.ResultsA total of 471 red cell recovery cases for 85 surgical procedures met inclusion criteria. Of the 7 surgical subspecialties utilizing red cell recovery, orthopedics utilized the most cases (22.9%, n = 108), followed by urology (19.1%, n = 90) and cardiothoracic surgery (18.3%, n = 86). Radical retropubic prostatectomy (11.7%), revision (7.6%), and primary (6.6%) total hip replacement were the most utilized procedures. Red cell recovery use had a 79% compliance rate with national guidelines. Vascular surgery and urology had the highest average return at 699 mL (interquartile range, 351-1127; CI, 449-852) and 654 mL (interquartile range, 363-860; CI, 465-773), respectively.ConclusionsOverall, our center demonstrated good compliance with national red cell recovery guidelines. This audit adds to the existing data on red cell recovery practice in Australia and provides a benefit-specific surgical procedure guideline that includes cardiothoracic surgery.

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