CCP CCP Blood Conservation & Transfusion Strategies

Question 1

What is the primary goal of intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) during cardiac surgery?

Accepted Answer

Recover and reinfuse the patient's own washed red blood cells

Answer

ICS collects shed blood, washes it in a centrifuge bowl, and returns concentrated autologous red blood cells to reduce allogeneic transfusion requirements.

Question 2

Modified ultrafiltration (MUF) performed after CPB separation is used primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Hemoconcentrate blood and remove inflammatory mediators

Answer

MUF hemoconcentrates the blood after bypass and removes excess fluid along with inflammatory cytokines released during CPB, offering particular benefit in pediatric patients.

Question 3

What hematocrit level is typically accepted as the minimum safe threshold during hypothermic CPB?

Accepted Answer

20-21%

Answer

A hematocrit of 20-21% is the generally accepted minimum threshold during hypothermic CPB to maintain adequate oxygen delivery to tissues.

Question 4

Antifibrinolytic drugs such as tranexamic acid and epsilon-aminocaproic acid work by:

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting plasminogen activators to prevent fibrin clot breakdown

Answer

These lysine analogs competitively block plasminogen binding sites, preventing fibrinolysis and reducing post-bypass bleeding and transfusion requirements.

Question 5

Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) of the CPB circuit is intended to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce hemodilution by replacing crystalloid prime with the patient's own blood

Answer

RAP displaces crystalloid prime with patient blood drawn from the arterial and venous cannulae, minimizing dilutional anemia at the onset of bypass.

(CCP) Certified Clinical Perfusionist Practice Test

(CCP) Certified Clinical Perfusionist Practice Test

CCP CCP Blood Conservation & Transfusion Strategies