The use of the Cell Saver in transoral maxillofacial surgery: a preliminary report.

In a prospective study with 18 patients, the Cell Saver was used in transoral operations. Blood cultures were taken immediately before retransfusion, 15 min, 2 and 24 h after retransfusion. As a clinical consequence we noticed a higher increase in temperature because of the transient bacteraemia. Other negative clinical consequences were not observed. If adequate antibiotic prophylaxis is used with careful patient selection, we think that the Cell Saver can even be used in transoral operations, although the number of observations is too small to allow definitive conclusions.