The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on intraoperative red blood cell salvage during radical prostatectomy or radical cystectomy.
NICE considered the evidence relating to the efficacy and safety of intraoperative blood cell salvage in obstetrics (IPG144) and for intraoperative red blood cell salvage during radical prostatectomy or radical cystectomy (IPG258) in response to concerns expressed about theoretical risks associated with the procedure. These concerns were the possibility of amniotic fluid embolism and haemolytic disease in future pregnancies when used in obstetrics, and reinfusion of malignant cells when used in radical prostatectomy/cystectomy.
The evidence relating to safety of cell salvage in these procedures was considered adequate and therefore NICE does not intend to review its use in other specific clinical situations unless notified of new indications for intraoperative cell salvage in which there may be new safety concerns.
Description
Intraoperative blood cell salvage involves the collection of the solid components of the blood lost during an operation which is then transfused back to the same patient.
Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance.