Patient's 'Lost' Blood Can Be Reused in Trauma Surgery

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All hospitals depend heavily on allogeneic blood, and without it, we would be in trouble. It is the safest it has ever been as far as disease transmission is concerned, but it is still not without risk. But one risk that cannot seem to be eliminated is the suppression of the immune system. It is dose dependent and there are numerous studies showing that there is a significant increase in post-op infection with 3-4 units of banked blood given to the patient. This does not happen with the patient's own blood.
As far cost is concerned it is a no brainer. Compare 22 units of blood as mentioned by Dr. Waters for about $500 or less. Banked blood costs the patient $500+ per unit of blood in most hospitals. And there is little reimbursement for banked blood either.

Tom Johnston RN,CP of GA 3:18PM July 21, 2010

Perhaps it would be prudent to research the transmission of disease from donated blood vs. risks of filtering blood lost during trauma and reinfusion. Having worked in bloodbanking for a number of years, I find this article to be misleading as to the risk of transfusion as well as the cost of reuse of blood products.

Julie of ND 1:18PM July 21, 2010

Wnat II find most curious about this study is that the allogenic donated blood arm showed no difference in outcome. This appears to suggest that efforts to reduce risk of transfusion are indeed working. This outcome will need to be repeated in a number of differing circumstances by other studies, however before a blanket statement to this effect can be made.
As for the previous comment, I am curious to know what will pay for the hospital's expenses if they develop a blood salvage program if they cannot seek reimbursement for it ?

Steven A. Mechanic of CT 11:18AM July 21, 2010

I would imagine that most people who are bleeding so badly that they need transfusions aren't bleeding from a tidy little vein, more like a gaping hole or 2 or 3. It's one thing to collect & filter a person's own blood during a planned surgery. It's got to be a lot more difficult to catch something that's spilling out onto the floor or into a body cavity.
I also think the author is selling donated blood, and those (very few in number & healthy)that donate blood short . And, even if it's currently cheaper to reuse a patient's own blood, eventually hospitals will find a "reason" to charge patients just as much for their own blood as they would have to pay for someone's else's blood that has been collected, processed into its individual components, and tested extensively elsewhere.

Terry of MA 1:32PM July 20, 2010