Cleansing of Suction Blood in Cardiac Surgery for Reduced Inflammatory Response

Cardiac surgery using heart and lung machine produces an inflammatory reaction in the body. This leads in few percent of cases to heart, lung, and kidney disturbances that potentially causes death. White blood cells in contact with the heart and lung machine and external surfaces release mediators partly responsible for this. Blood collected by the suction and the blood remaining in the heart and lung machine after its use, can be cleaned by a cell saver before reinfusion, and this might reduce the inflammatory response.