Intraoperative red blood cell salvage and autologous transfusion during open radical retropubic prostatectomy: a cost-benefit analysis.

INTRODUCTIONOpen radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) has an average blood loss of over 1,000ml. This has been reported even from high volume centres of excellence.1–4 We have looked at the clinical and financial benefits of using intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) as a method of reducing the autologous blood transfusion requirements for our RRP patients. MATERIALS AND METHODSGroup A comprised 25 consecutive patients who underwent RRP immediately prior to the acquisition of a cell saver machine. Group B consisted of the next 25 consecutive patients undergoing surgery using the Dideco Electa (Sorin Group, Italy) cell saver machine. Blood transfusion costs for both groups were calculated and compared. RESULTSThe mean postoperative haemoglobin was similar in both groups (11.1gm/dl in Group A and 11.4gm/dl in Group B). All Group B patients received autologous blood (average 506ml, range: 103–1,023ml). In addition, 5 patients (20%) in Group B received a group total of 16 units (average 0.6 units) of homologou...