Autotransfusion of pleural fluid

The 2050 Blood Recovery System is indicated for use as a water-seal chest drainage system to collect blood from the mediastinal or pleural cavity; when collected, this blood may be reinfused during surgery or immediately thereafter for palliation. In this case, autotransfusion was used to ease the patient's breathing. The reinfusion of high volumes of pleural fluid must be further evaluated in symptom management.