Assessment of the availability of intraoperative autotransfusion in urological operations.

Abstract

Intraoperative autotransfusion in urological operations has the risks of reinfusing urine constituents, bacteria and cancer cells. We assessed the efficacy of intraoperative autotransfusion and leukocyte removal filters to separate red blood cells from these constituents. Concentrated red blood cells were mixed with urine, bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and tumor cells (KK47 and ACHN), and processed with the intraoperative autotransfusion device. Biochemical analyses of erythrocytes collected in reinfusion bags (collected erythrocyte solution) from the mixtures of concentrated red blood cells and urine (mixture 1), and cultures of collected erythrocyte solution from the mixtures of concentrated red blood cells and bacteria (mixture 2) were performed. Cytology was done on collected erythrocyte solution from the mixtures of concentrated red blood cells and tumor cells (mixture 3) and filtrates were passed through leukocyte removal filters. Biochemical analyses of collected erythrocyte solution from mixture 1 indicated complete removal of urine constituents, while cultures from mixture 2 yielded bacterial growth. Tumor cells from both cell lines were found in the collected erythrocyte solution from mixture 3 although tumor cells were not found in filtrates through leukocyte removal filters. Our results suggest that intraoperative autotransfusion is safe for urological operations in which bacteria and tumor cells are not present in the operative field. Our data also indicate that intraoperative autotransfusion may be safe for urological cancer operations if it is combined with leukocyte removal filters to prevent unexpected reinfusion of tumor cells.