Abstract: The aim was to evaluate the quality of the salvaged blood processed by two autotransfusion devices-Ziti-2000 and COBE BRAT-2 during craniotomy and compare the processing effects of these two autotransfusion devices. 18 patients scheduled for elective craniotomy were randomly allocated into two groups. Two autotransfusion devices, Ziti-2000 and COBE BRAT-2 were used respectively. The hematocrit, red cell count, and the concentrations of free hemoglobin, hemoglobin, potassium, sodium and chloride of the blood before and after wash were examined. Both of these two cell-washing devices produced washed blood with hematocrit of about 0.50. In both of these two groups, the concentrations of potassium, sodium and chloride of the washed blood were very close to the physiological ranges. After wash, the concentrations of free hemoglobin were decreased significantly (P<0.01), and reached the acceptable ranges. It suggests that the quality of salvaged blood processed by Ziti-2000 and COBE BRAT-2 during craniotomy was satisfactory. The processing effects of the two cell-washing devices are similar.

Key words: blood examination, blood chemical analysis, autologous transfusion, craniotomy