The Health Protection Agency estimates that the number of new swine flu cases is currently set to continue increasing, which reduces the number of people eligible to donate blood. At this year’s AfPP Conference and Exhibition, Summit Medical helped to raise awareness of the importance of alternatives to banked blood as the H1N1 pandemic impacts donor supplies.
In the UK, more than 7000 bags of donated blood are consumed daily in hospitals making blood a precious resource. Orthopaedic surgery is the 4th largest user of banked blood. Utilising Summit Medical’s sterile solutions for blood management in orthopaedic surgery could help ensure banked blood stocks are preserved for those procedures where there is no alternative.
CellTrans post-operative autologous blood transfusion device with its double bag configuration allows collection and reinfusion of up to 1,200ml of blood over a 12 hour post-operative period. As well as providing patient benefits, the large capacity of CellTrans allows you to collect more shed blood, further reducing the need for banked blood.
S-MART sterile exsanguinating tourniquet, remains in position throughout surgery (even on tapered limbs), provides consistent pressure which ensures continued occlusion, maintains a bloodless field and reduces blood loss. Used in conjunction with CellTrans in knee replacement surgery, S-MART could aid reduction in banked blood usage.
Contact Summit Medical: email info@summit-medical.co.uk or telephone 01451821311
