Evaluating the 'next generation' of cell salvage--will it make a difference?

Donor blood supplies are diminishing, becoming more costly and these transfusions lead to higher mortality in cardiac patients. The transfusion risks and the literature highlight the need for an alternative similar to cell salvage to be routinely considered. The Xtra is the first cell saver to be launched since 2001 and will undoubtedly initiate evolution towards the 'next generation' of cell savers. It is also the first to be launched in a new era where the demand for electronic perfusion data management (EPDM) has grown.

The user interface (UI) was easy to use. The increased data entry options improved the quality of the recordable data. The integrated data management system (DMS) was comprehensive. Data was easy to manage and enabled central data compilation, which reduces repeated data, the risk of inconsistent data inventory and provides the potential for research and analyses. The haematocrit of the processed blood is a key quality indicator for cell salvage. The comparison of the manufacturer's integrated protocol, Popt, to our team's own protocol showed that Popt delivered a higher haematocrit on its '1st bowl' (59.1% compared to 57.3%) and its 'total process' end product haematocrit was 0.68% higher. The Popt cycle took an average of 330s, whereas our own settings completed in just over 300s.

The Xtra is a device which will lead the evolution of 'next generation' cell saver technology. The user interface and data management system provide export options and the ability to record the level of data required for good EPDM. This is essential to 'future proof' cell salvage technology. The manufacturer's integrated protocol achieved a higher end product haematocrit than our perfusion team's best practice. The design of the Xtra is contemporary, but the DMS equips this cell saver for the new era that faces both Perfusion and Cardiac Surgery.