Novel Device for Autologous Blood Transfusion in a Community Hospital Setting

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase anesthesia care provider awareness and knowledge of the ‘hemafuse device’ through an educational presentation at a community hospital in Casa Grande, Arizona. Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a steep decline in blood available for allogeneic transfusion throughout the United States (US). Autologous transfusion technology can decrease the reliance on allogenic blood for surgical procedures. The hemafuse device was developed as a low-cost technology for autologous intraoperative transfusion. The hemafuse has been used in Ghana and Kenya for intraoperative autologous transfusion due to the chronic blood shortage experienced in those countries. The US is currently in an acute blood shortage in which use of the hemafuse device could be beneficial at a community hospital. Methods: The anesthesia care providers at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center were the participants in the project. An educational presentation was emailed to all current providers with a post-then-pre survey to complete after watching the video. The video included an explanation of the hemafuse device, the setup, demonstration of the use, and indication and contraindications for use in clinical practice. Results: Two anesthesia care providers participated in the educational presentation. Both providers reported an increase in awareness of the device and increased knowledge of the indications and contraindications for use. Other measures, such as awareness of the current blood shortage, current autologous technology, desire for hands-on hemafuse training, and utility of the device at BCGMC remained unchanged by the educational presentation. Conclusions: The hemafuse device could decrease the reliance on allogeneic blood for surgical patients. An educational video can be used to increase awareness and knowledge of the device if it were to become available for clinical use at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center. The hemafuse device could be used to alleviate the reliance on the stored allogeneic blood available for certain surgical procedures. The educational video could be used to increase awareness and knowledge of providers if the device were to become available for use at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center