This experimental randomized study compared the effects of macrodrop and microdrop blood transfusion sets on red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis. Twenty units of packed RBCs from different donors were infused through 48 infusion sets from 2 manufacturers at infusion rates of 10 and 100 mL/h. Pre- and postinfusion analysis was performed to determine total hemoglobin (g/dL), hematocrit (%), free hemoglobin (g/dL), potassium (mmol/L), haptoglobin (g/L), and degree of hemolysis (%). The results demonstrated that the level of free hemoglobin (P < .001) and degree of hemolysis (P < .001) increased postinfusion. A higher degree of hemolysis was noted when the RBCs were infused at a rate of 10 mL/h through a microdrop blood transfusion set.
Waiver of the donor's free and informed consent form was requested, as blood donation is a voluntary and altruistic act. Every donor signs a consent provided by law, in which he agrees that his blood can be used for therapeutic purposes, examinations and laboratory tests required by law and current technical standards. Therefore, it was not possible to identify the donor's origin, as the blood units did not contain the donor's identification and, thus, the donor's image and privacy were protected.
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