Intra-operative red cell salvage and postoperative acidosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The contribution of intraoperative mechanical red cell salvage to acidosis in the immediate postoperative period after cardiac surgery
IRAS ID
206063
Contact name
R Peter Alston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
Excess acid in the blood is a frequent complication in the early period after heart surgery. Recent research suggests that the excess acid in the blood may be due to salt containing fluids used to fill the heart lung machine and replace blood loss. Previous studies have found a strong relationship between the rapid infusion of salt solution and the development of excess acid in the blood and the source of the acid has been traced to the relatively high amounts of chlorine in the salt solution. \n\nMechanical collection and re-transfusion of red blood cells is routinely used in heart surgery to reduce the amount of donor blood that is required to be transfused. However, the salvaged red blood cells are suspended in a large amount of salt containing solution that is known to cause excess acid in the blood. We believe that patients receiving larger volumes of mechanically collected red blood cells during their surgery will have higher levels of acid in their blood after heart surgery. In order to test this using routinely collected information, the amount of mechanically collected red blood during surgery will be related to the increase in acidity of the blood from before surgery until arrival in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0509
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion