Michalska et al: Use of a cell saver device for perioperative autotransfusion in 102 dogs and one cat
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2026

🔍 Key Findings

• Broad surgical applicability: The retrospective study included 103 autotransfusions (102 dogs and one cat): 40 emergency and 63 elective procedures. Neoplasia was suspected or diagnosed in 91% of cases.
• Effective blood recovery: Blood was collected by direct surgical suction (40 cases) or combined suction and sponge washing (63 cases), followed by centrifugation and saline washing to produce autologous red blood cells.
• Greater transfusion requirements in emergencies: Mean autotransfusion volume was 22.1 mL/kg for emergency procedures versus 8.2 mL/kg for elective procedures (p < .0001). The overall mean was 14.18 mL/kg among cases with available volume data.
• PCV response was variable: Each additional 1 mL/kg autotransfused was associated with approximately 0.6 percentage points of PCV increase (p = .004). However, only 48% showed an increase relative to pretransfusion PCV within 2 hours.
• Reduced reliance on donor blood: Allogeneic blood products were required in approximately 14% of cases, indicating that autotransfusion alone was sufficient for most patients in this cohort.
• Important limitations in small patients: Of 16 animals weighing less than 10 kg, 12 required additional allogeneic blood. The 100–150 mL minimum reservoir volume and 7–25-minute processing time limited rapid autotransfusion.
• Low observed transfusion reaction rate: One suspected non-immunologic delayed hemolytic reaction occurred approximately 48 hours after autotransfusion (1%). No deaths were attributed to transfusion-related causes.
• Evidence limitations: The single-center retrospective design, absence of an allogeneic-only control group, and inclusion of only one cat limit comparative conclusions and generalizability to feline patients.