Perioperative Autologous Transfusion Services (PATS)

A patient’s own blood, autologous blood, is
recognized as the safest transfusion option for patients who need blood
transfusions. A transfusion, after all, is a transplant of sorts. Instead of
a kidney or liver, blood is the tissue a patient receives. When patients
receive their own blood, they are not exposed to infectious disease and are
receiving blood that is perfectly matched for them.

The perioperative autologous transfusion
(PAT) procedure collects blood that would usually be lost during or after
surgery, washes and processes it, and immediately returns it to the patient.
Its use, in concert with the patient’s autologous blood donations, can
reduce or eliminate the patient’s need for allogeneic blood transfusion.

The PAT Procedure
PAT is a safe transfusion alternative for patients who may require a
volume of blood not possible to provide by autologous donation or for those
who cannot donate pre-surgical autologous blood.

Often referred to as “blood salvage,” the
perioperative autologous transfusion procedure (PAT) recovers blood from the
surgical field. Anticoagulant is added and the blood is pumped through a
cell salvage machine, centrifuged and washed. The resulting packed red cells
are pumped into a transfer bag. The unit of blood can be returned
immediately to the patient or can be infused later.

Surgeries Where PAT Can Be Used
PAT can be used for various types of surgery including:

• Cardiac/Thoracic
• General
• Gynecologic
• Orthopedic
• Urologic
• Vascular
• Other Operations

PAT Will Not Interfere With Surgery
The typical processing time is three to five minutes to return one unit
of packed red cells. The procedure does not
prolong surgery or anesthesia time, does not
interfere with the surgical field and does
not intrude on the surgical team’s tasks.

Who Performs PAT?
PAT services are performed by skilled PAT specialists who are specially
trained for this service. The PAT specialists are provided by PHP Perfusion
Services.

Each PAT specialist receives rigorous
training and ongoing evaluation to meet the medical, technical and
operational certification requirements established by PHP Perfusion Services
and American Association of Blood Banks. While in the hospital operating
room, the PAT specialists are under the direction of the surgeon and
anesthesiologist.

If PAT Is Used, Patients Can Also Donate
Blood for Their Surgery
The surgeon can prescribe the appropriate number of units to be
donated before surgery which can be available to supplement the PAT
procedure, if needed.

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