Standard Operating Procedure
Cell Saver: Use of
Date 5/01/2012
Applicable to: Perioperative Services
Team Members Performing: Perioperative Staff
I.
Purpose:
To provide safe and consistent care for patients receiving autologous blood and blood
products from the cell saver machine.
II.
Procedure:
A.
Should any of equipment fail to function properly, a repair request form is
completed and the repair department is contacted.
1.
Clinical Engineering.
2.
Apparatus Shop.
3.
OR Repair Team.
4.
Plant Services (are the primary areas within VUMC that perform
repairs).
B.
If these areas cannot provide the needed assistance then the equipment is
sent out to the appropriate vendor for repair as determined by the
Operative Services Central Processing, extension #38641, Room B-307.
C.
When the broken item has been repaired or replaced it is returned to the
appropriate department and the repair/replace document signed and dated
as received.
D.
Twenty four hours prior to the next surgery schedule, an equipment
conflict report is run to ensure daily equipment need. Any conflicts are
reviewed by the PCM’s to determine alternative measure.
E.
Should the determination be made in any of the patient care areas that
there is insufficient equipment to allow the staff to provide safe patient
care, the charge person from that area is responsible for contacting a
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Instrument Tracking System
charge person from a comparable unit within Operative Services to borrow
the needed item.
F.
If the needed item is not available within Perioperative Services the charge
person may then contact the Operative Services Materials Office (3-6353)
for assistance in obtaining the item from outside of Perioperative Services
or even outside of VUMC.
1.
The Materials Management Office determines the availability of
the item requested and has it delivered to their office as soon as
possible.
2.
Upon arrival the requesting person is notified, so the item may be
secured for use in the area of need. Any items borrowed are
returned the same day or immediately the next morning.
Any electrical equipment that is borrowed from another hospital or
vendor, or that is new, must be checked by the Clinical
Engineering Department prior to use for patient care.
3.
B.
The autotransfusion technicians will manage all aspects of the cell saver machine
per hospital policy.
C.
The anesthesia technical staff educator will provide annual competencies for
staff operating the cell saver machine.
D.
The anesthesia technical staff educator or the designated trainer will provide
quality controls for machines used in Operative Services as well as provide
quality controls for blood products delivered to the patient, including but not
limited to, hematocrit and potassium tests. Testing samples will be taken yearly
for each cell saver machine and for each operator of the cell saver unit.
E.
A monthly report detailing the types of procedures which required introperative
auto transfusion; the estimated call saver blood loss and the amount of red blood
cells returned will be sent to the Blood Bank Medical Director for review.
F.
The Blood Bank Medical Director will review the Quality Control logs; training
records and Standards of Practice annually.
G.
After every use, the auto transfusion technician will clean the cell saver
equipment per manufacturer instructions.
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