Processed Residual Pump Blood in Cardiac Surgery: The PRBC Trial

The inflow line to the hemoconcentrator was connected to the sideport of the arterial filter stopcock, allowing the residual blood in the CPB circuit to be processed through the hemoconcentrator. The outflow line from the hemoconcentrator was connected to a second three way stopcock located on the cardiotomy reservoir. Blood was circulated from the venous reservoir through the hemoconcentrator and returned to the venous reservoir until the desired hematocrit was achieved. The blood was then diverted to a transfer pack until all the blood from the venous reservoir, heat exchanger, and membrane oxygenator had been filtered and hemoconcentrated. This transfer pack was given to the anesthetist for reinfusion into the patient.