What is the role of the intraoperative cell saver in blood loss management?

• A. Used to insert a drain.
• B. Not used in any case.
• C. Used to temper anesthesia depth.
• D. Used to collect and reinfuse autologous blood.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is autologous blood conservation during surgery. The intraoperative cell saver collects blood shed in the operative field, processes it—centrifuging and washing to remove plasma, debris, and contaminants—and then reinfuses the cleaned red blood cells back to the patient. This reduces the need for donor blood and lowers transfusion-related risks, making it especially useful during major blood loss procedures. It isn’t a device for inserting drains, it isn’t used to manage anesthesia depth, and its purpose isn’t to determine anesthesia level—it's specifically to salvage and return the patient’s own blood.