Blood cell salvage during cesarean delivery

Maternal outcomes following postpartum autotransfusion of blood lost during vaginal obstetric hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Autotransfusion following vaginal delivery has not been as widely adopted and existing data on this topic are limited to small case series.

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective matched cohort study. Deliveries exposed to autotransfusion during obstetric hemorrhage were matched to unexposed controls with obstetric hemorrhage who did not receive autotransfusion. The primary outcome was allogeneic transfusion of packed red blood cells. Planned secondary analyses included change in hemoglobin following delivery, composite maternal safety outcomes, and unplanned postpartum health care utilization.

RESULTS

Thirty-six deliveries exposed to autotransfusion were matched to 144 unexposed controls. There was no significant difference in allogenic transfusion of packed red blood cells in the patients exposed to autotransfusion red with unexposed controls (adjusted OR 1.1; 95% CI 0.5-2.4). Deliveries that received autotransfusion had a less severe pre- to post-delivery decline in hemoglobin compared with unexposed controls across all values of QBL (p = .003). There were no significant differences in maternal morbidity outcomes evaluated in exposed versus unexposed deliveries.

CONCLUSION

Autotransfusion in cases of vaginal obstetric hemorrhage did not attenuate rates of allogenic packed red blood cell transfusion but did result in a less severe pre- to postdelivery decline in hemoglobin at discharge. Autotransfusion cases did not have any markers of increased maternal morbidity when compared with a control group. These findings support emerging evidence indicating that autotransfusion of blood lost during vaginal obstetric hemorrhage is a safe and potentially effective tool for use in the management of obstetric hemorrhage.

How do I perform cell salvage during vaginal obstetric hemorrhage?

BACKGROUND

Obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality. To combat this, obstetric organizations worldwide recommend consideration of autotransfusion during severe peripartum bleeding to minimize allogenic transfusion. Current guidelines for autotransfusion in obstetrics are limited to patients undergoing cesarean birth. At present, women experiencing vaginal obstetric hemorrhage are excluded from many obstetric autotransfusion protocols. However, emerging data suggest that autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood is both safe and feasible in the obstetric patient population.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In this review, we will provide an overview of the current literature surrounding cell salvage of vaginally send blood and a detailed outline of our institution's blood collection protocol.

RESULTS

Recent data suggests autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood is both safe and effective.

DISCUSSION

Implementation of autotransfusion technology into the delivery room is a critical next step for the advancement of transfusion medicine in obstetrics. This review provides an overview of the data surrounding autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood during maternal hemorrhage and describes practical suggestions for how it can be effectively implemented into routine practice.

Autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood as a novel therapy in obstetric hemorrhage: A case series

OBJECTIVE

To report maternal outcomes in a cohort of women who received autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood and to describe the feasibility of blood collection and cell salvage processing at the time of vaginal hemorrhage.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective case series of patients who received autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood at the time of obstetric hemorrhage from January 2014 to August 2020. Maternal data and cell salvage utilization characteristics were abstracted from the electronic medical record.

RESULTS

Sixty-four cases were identified in which autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood occurred during an obstetric hemorrhage. Median quantitative blood loss was 2175 ml (interquartile range 1500-2250 ml) with 89% of cases having a blood loss greater than 1000 ml. Patients on average received approximately 1.3 units of autologous blood product (384 ml, interquartile range 244-520 ml) and no direct adverse events were observed during transfusion. We observed heterogeneity in autologous blood volume across all values of quantitative blood loss. The need for allogenic blood transfusion was common and occurred in 72% of all cases (N = 46). There were no documented cases of maternal sepsis or severe infectious morbidity.

CONCLUSION

In 64 cases where autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood occurred, autotransfusion was well tolerated. Heterogeneity in autologous blood volume collection likely represents the lack of standardized protocols for blood collection in the delivery room. Autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood is a feasible and reasonable technique to employ during severe obstetric hemorrhage.

Intraoperative cell salvage for obstetrics: a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial

Background

The latest basic studies and clinical evidence have confirmed the safety and efficacy of intraoperative autologous blood cell transfusion in cardiac surgery and orthopaedics. However, in caesarean section, there are still concerns about the contamination of amniotic fluid and foetal components, and consequently the application of intraoperative autologous blood cell transfusion is not universal. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of intraoperative autologous blood cell transfusion in obstetric surgery.

Methods

A prospective, randomized, controlled, feasibility study was performed in women undergoing caesarean section. One hundred sixteen participants were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio into either the intraoperative cell salvage group or the control group. Allogeneic blood cells were transfused into patients with haemoglobin concentrations < 80 g/dL in both the intraoperative cell salvage group and the control group.

Results

No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, weight, maternal parity, history of previous caesarean section, gestational weeks of delivery, etc. However, compared with the control group, patients in the intraoperative cell salvage group had a significantly lower amount of allogeneic blood cell transfusion, lower incidence of postoperative incision infection, delayed wound healing, perioperative allergy, adverse cardiovascular events, hypoproteinaemia and shorter hospital stay.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that the use of autologous blood cell transfusion is safe and effective for patients with obstetric haemorrhage. Trial registration: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional and/or National Research Committee of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University (2016-XJS-003-01) as well as the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or other comparable ethical standards. The clinical trials were registered (ChiCTR-ICC-15,007,096) on September 28, 2015.

Intraoperative cell salvage is associated with reduced allogeneic blood requirements and has no significant impairment on coagulation function in patients undergoing cesarean delivery: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to examine the association between Intraoperative cell salvage (ICS), allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) and coagulation function in obstetrics.

METHODS

A total of 486 pregnant women undergoing cesarean delivery, of whom 157 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into ICS group (n = 101, ICS used during operation) and control group (n = 56, ICS not used during operation). Clinical data, including plasma prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (Fib) and thrombin time (TT) levels, were collected from all patients preoperatively (within 12-24 h) and postoperatively (within 6-12 h) and analyzed by t test, two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Spearman's correlation.

RESULTS

The use of ICS is associated with lower requirement rate for ABT (P < .001), while the blood loss was similar between the two groups (P = .990). Mean volume of ICS transfusion was 432.65 mL. Compared to preoperative values, the postoperative PT and APTT levels were significantly increased, while Fib was decreased in the two groups (all P < .01). No significant difference in coagulation function was observed between groups in preoperative and postoperative phase (P > .05). Furthermore, PT, APTT and TT after surgery were not correlated with the transfused volume of salvaged blood (P > .05) while the levels of Fib were negatively correlated with the volume (P < .01). In addition, there were no transfusion reactions in both two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative cell salvage is correlated with reduced allogeneic blood requirements but did not impair blood coagulation significantly in patients undergoing cesarean delivery.

Does current evidence support the use of intraoperative cell salvage in reducing the need for blood transfusion in caesarean section?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

An important cause of maternal morbidity and direct maternal death is obstetric haemorrhage at caesarean section. Concerns regarding allogeneic blood safety, limited blood supplies and rising health costs have collectively generated enthusiasm for the utility of methods intended to reduce the use of allogeneic blood transfusion in cases of haemorrhage at caesarean section. This can be achieved by intraoperative cell salvage (IOCS). The aim of this review is to summarize and examine the evidence for the efficacy of IOCS during caesarean section, in women at risk of haemorrhage, in reducing the need for allogeneic blood transfusion.

RECENT FINDINGS

The majority of the evidence currently available is from case reports and case series. Although this evidence appears to support the use of IOCS in obstetrics, strong clinical evidence or economic effectiveness from clinical trials are essential to support the routine practice of IOCS in obstetrics.

SUMMARY

Current evidence is limited to reported case series and two small controlled studies. Overall, IOCS may reduce the need for allogeneic blood transfusions during caesarean section. Future large randomized trials are required to assess effectiveness, cost effectiveness and safety. The results of the current ongoing SALVO (A randomised controlled trial of intra-operative cell salvage during caesarean section in women at risk of haemorrhage) trial will shed light on these aspects.

How I treat postpartum hemorrhage

Worldwide, ∼800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. The single most common cause is severe bleeding, which can kill a healthy woman within hours if care is substandard or delayed. Improved antenatal practices have led to the early identification of at-risk women and modern technology and new techniques have enabled effective management strategies so that now, in the western world, most of the morbidity and mortality arises from those cases which occur unexpectedly and could not have been predicted. Prompt and effective management and multidisciplinary involvement is paramount to save the lives of these women. We use a case report to illustrate and discuss the main elements of management of this condition.

Cost savings of red cell salvage during cesarean delivery

OBJECTIVE

To use decision analysis to evaluate whether and under what conditions routine setup of intraoperative cell salvage during cesarean delivery is cost-saving.

METHODS

We developed a decision model to compare costs associated with two strategies for cesarean delivery: 1) routine setup of intraoperative cell salvage; or 2) standard care without intraoperative cell salvage. One-, two-, and three-way sensitivity analyses as well as Monte Carlo simulation were used to assess the robustness of our findings.

RESULTS

Among nonselected women undergoing cesarean delivery, our base case estimate was that 3.2% would require red blood cell transfusion. Under this assumption, cell salvage is cost-saving only if each woman requires at least 60 units. Conversely, if only two units on average are required, the probability of transfusion needs to be at least 58% for cell salvage to be cost-saving. In our base case analysis, setup of intraoperative cell salvage during routine cesarean deliveries is not cost-saving, increasing the cost per cesarean delivery by $223.80. We found that cell salvage would be cost-saving only in very high-risk scenarios. For example, severe maternal anemia or abnormal placentation, in which 54% and 75% of women are transfused three and two units per case, respectively, would make cell salvage cost-saving.

CONCLUSION

Setup of intraoperative cell salvage during cesarean delivery is cost-saving and should be considered only when there is a predictably high probability of transfusion or when a massive transfusion is reasonably likely.