The system can also be used to salvage and wash red blood cells from fluid drained from the wound after surgery. The OrthoPAT system is designed specifically for blood loss rates commonly seen in elective orthopedic surgery such as hip or knee replacement or spinal fusion. The system is cleared for use in any surgical procedure where the blood loss is expected to be less than or equal to 2 liters per hour. The decision to use autotransfusion and reinfuse salvaged red blood cells is entirely within the domain of the responsible medical team. The following recommendations are based upon generally accepted medical practice regarding autotransfusion.
Religious beliefs cause the patient to refuse allogeneic transfusions.
Compatible allogeneic blood is not available. The patient is unable or unwilling to donate sufficient quantities of autologous blood prior to surgery to adequately cover the anticipated transfusion requirement. The patient or physician prefers perioperative autotransfusion rather than preoperative autologous donation or transfusion of allogeneic blood. In the presence of systemic infection. Blood salvaged from the surgical field is contaminated by bacteria from an active infection at wound or drain site.