Acute hypotension associated with leucocyte depletion filters during cell salvaged blood transfusion

Summary Intra-operative cell salvage is used in more than 75% of NHS hospitals in the United Kingdom and is a safe and cost effective alternative to allogenic blood transfusion. We report a case of acute hypotension during reinfusion of cell salvaged blood through a leucocyte depletion filter that occurred during a caesarean section. We review the literature of hypotension associated with the use of bedside leucocyte depletion filters.