The lyses of red blood cells, both for immune or non-immune reasons, can cause an elevation in plasmatic hemoglobin, inducing harmful effects mainly in the kidneys and cardiovascular system. This work aims at identifying the possible hemolytic effect, related to mechanical trauma due to the use of different models of infusion pumps, on red blood cells transfused after up to ten days of storage. Three models of pumps were studied (Nutrimat, Infusomat Compact and Volumed), (four devices of each model) with three infusion speeds being tested (120 mL/h, 240 mL/h and 360 mL/h). The parameters used to report the degree of hemolysis were the percentile of hemolysis, hemoglobin levels and free potassium in the plasma. Samples were collected before infusion of red blood cells using the pumps, half way through infusion (1/2 T) and at the end of infusion (T), for the three different speeds. Significant variations were not seen in the analyzed parameters between the control samples and those collected at different speeds, using different models of pumps and infusion mechanisms and among pumps of the same brand and at different infusion times. The greatest variation found involved free potassium, probably due to the different levels found in red blood cell concentrates seen when control samples were compared to values obtained half way through and at the end of infusion for each pump. In agreement with the obtained results changes in the percentile of hemolysis were not found after infusion of the cells using the different infusion pumps.
Hemolysis; infusion pumps; transfusion
