Evidence suggests that the majority of blood loss resulting from cardiovascular surgeries occurs after surgery.^1,2 It's not surprising then that most cardiovascular-related transfusions take place postoperatively. But the risk of transfusion immunomodulation, infection, length of stay, and mortality also increase with each unit of allogeneic blood transfused.^3,4 In fact, one study shows that allogeneic transfusion is associated with a 70% increase in mortality in CABG patients.⁵

The appropriate standard of care

In addition to providing chest drainage, the cardioPAT® Cardiovascular Perioperative Autotransfusion System collects, washes, and returns patients' blood after surgery, giving them the best chance at avoiding unnecessary allogeneic transfusions and related risks of infection. By consistently delivering fresh red cells with hematocrit between 70-80%, surgeons ensure patients receive their own high-quality blood with zero chance of immunosuppression.

The cardioPAT QuickConnect Reservoir supports a cost-effective, "collect first" approach by allowing the recovery of shed blood when it's unclear how much the patient will bleed. With the ability to attach to the processing set at any time, the QuickConnect Reservoir becomes a safety net, returning the highest quality blood only to the patients who need it, and collecting blood cost-effectively for those who don't.

Click here for a cardioPAT product brochure. (PDF)

^1. Shander A et al. Best Practice & Research Clinical Anesthesiology 21:pp 271-289, 2007
^2. Carson et al. Transfusion 1999;39:625-632
^3. Innerhover et al. Transfusion 1999;39:625-632
^4. Engoren et al. Chest 2002;122:1309-15
^5. Blumberg N, and Heal JM. Immunomodulation by transfusion in: Perioperative Transfusion Medicine, 2006, eds. Spiess, Spence, Shander; pp. 153-168