Washing and filtering of cell‐salvaged blood – does it make autotransfusion safer?

SUMMARY Autologous transfusion was first performed in the late 1800s, but it was not until the 1970s that devices were developed that enabled widespread adoption of the practice. Unwashed salvaged blood contains thrombogenic products, cell breakdown products and plasma proteins, and gross chemical, cellular and physical contaminants. Washing and filtering of salvaged blood is routinely performed to remove or reduce these elements. In this paper we review the clinical data supporting the need for washing and filtering of salvaged blood.