The Role of Intraoperative Cell Salvage for Musculoskeletal Sarcoma Surgery 

Description

In this webinar, Dr. Raja Bhaskara Rajasekaran discusses the role of intraoperative cell salvage in musculoskeletal sarcoma surgery, presenting findings from a study conducted at the Nuffield Orthopedic Center in the Oxford Sarcoma Service. Beginning with an appreciation to colleagues and institution support, Dr. Rajasekaran explains the process of cell salvage, where blood lost during surgery is collected, processed, and returned to the patient, highlighting its potential to reduce the necessity for allogeneic transfusions.



The conversation shifts towards the safety of using cell salvage in cancer patients, referencing historical concerns related to reinfusing malignant cells and the associated risks of accelerated metastasis observed in earlier studies. Notably, new advances in filtration techniques and studies focusing on other cancers, such as urological and gynecological oncology, suggest that modern filtered cell salvage may not pose the same risks.



This leads to a pivotal case in which cell salvage was used on a Jehovah's Witness patient requiring surgery for a significant pelvic sarcoma, a scenario which underscores the necessity and efficacy of the technique. Results from the study revealed substantial blood loss during procedures, with the average re-infused volume being significant, yet cytological analyses of the salvaged blood showed no evidence of malignant cells.



Dr. Rajasekaran emphasizes the encouraging outcomes of using cell salvage in sarcoma surgeries while acknowledging that further research is necessary to address remaining questions and ensure best practices within this evolving field.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221488

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