Cell saving with cell saver apparatus is a useful method for reducing the homologous blood and blood products transfusion during open heart surgery, The purpose of this method is to re duce the side effects of using homologous blood and blood products. Some of these side effects are hemolysİs, febrile reactions, transmission of diseases and bacterial reactions.

Fifty coronary artery patients who were operated electively In Ege University Medical Faculty Cardiovascular Surgery Department were taken to this study and randomized in two groups. BRAT (Baylor Rapid Auto Transfusion System) cell saver apparatus has been used in the first group. The results obtained from this study group have been compared with those obtained from the control group to find out if there were any statistical significance between them.

In this study, the total drainage and the number of blood transfusions in the first 24 hours and the amount of collected blood by cell saver were recorded. The radial artery blood samples were taken 3 times for each patient (preoperatively, postoperatively first and second days). Haematoc rit, activated clotting time, pro thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, the levels of fibrinogen, total protein, albümin, C₃, C₄, and whit blood cells, red blood cells, platelets counts were measured in these samples.

The need for transfusion of blood and blood products during open heart surgery as well as C3 complement levels decreased significantly by using cell saver. Also the amount of drainage decre ased in this group but this is not statistically significaııt. No harmful side effects due to cell saving was observed.