Complement split products and proinflammatory cytokines in intraoperatively salvaged unwashed blood during hip replacement: comparison between heparin-coated and non-heparin-coated autotransfusion systems

Background and Objectives  The aim of the present study was to investigate the quality of shed blood collected in a new intraoperative autotransfusion system (Sangvia®, AstraTech, Sweden) and to study whether heparin-coated surfaces in the device reduce the production of inflammatory mediators. Material and Methods  The study was randomized and prospective. Twelve total hip arthroplasty patients whose blood was collected with a device having a heparin-coated surface and 12 patients whose blood was collected with a device having a non-heparin-coated surface were included. Venous blood was drawn from the patients preoperatively. Intraoperatively 200 ml salvaged blood was collected and samples…