Intraoperative blood salvage in cancer surgery: safe and effective?

To support blood supply in the growing field of cancer surgery and to avoid transfusion induced immunomodulation caused by the allogeneic barrier and by blood storage leasions we use intraoperative blood salvage with blood irradiation. This method is safe as it provides efficient elimination of contaminating cancer cells, and as it does not compromise the quality of RBC. According to our experience with more than 700 procedures the combination of blood salvage with blood irradiation also is very effective in saving blood resources. With this autologous, fresh, washed RBC a blood product of excellent quality is available for optimal hemotherapy in cancer patients.