The use of a blood conservation pressure transducer system in critically ill patients

We tried to determine if a blood conservation pressure transducer system reduced blood transfusions, increased haemoglobin concentration or reduced line infections in critically ill patients. One hundred patients were randomly allocated to conventional or blood conserving systems attached to systemic and pulmonary arterial catheters. Intravascular lines were cultured after removal. There were no significant differences in transfusions or haemoglobin concentration. Blood conservation: median units transfused, 2 (range 0-19); mean haemoglobin at 7 days, 11.2 g.dl-1 (SD, 1.0). Conventional: median units, 2 (range 0-34); mean haemoglobin at 7 days, 11.1 g.dl-1 (SD 1.0). Thirty-seven of 99 arterial lines were colonised in the controls compared with 29 of 96 in the blood conservation group. Patients who required haemofiltration in both groups had significantly increased transfusion requirements. Haemofiltration: median 6 units (range 0-34) vs. non-haemofiltered: median 1 (range 0-14; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in transfusions, haemoglobin concentration or line colonisation with the blood conservation system. There is considerable potential for blood conservation during haemofiltration.