The cell saver can be deployed in cancer surgery, including lymphoma, as this article shows:


Autologous transfusion: an alternative to transfus...[Br J Surg. 1991] - PubMed Result

British Journal of Surgery Volume 78, Issue 6, Pages713 - 715

Autologous transfusion: An alternative to transfusion with banked blood during surgery for cancer

G. V. Miller, C. W. Ramsden, J. N. Primrose

University Department of Surgery, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, U
*Correspondence to J. N. Primrose, University Department of Surgery, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.

Abstract
Autologous blood transfusion in surgery for cancer has been avoided because of the metastatic potential of reinfused malignant cells. This study determined whether viable tumour cells remain in the red cell concentrate after separation and whether blood transfusion filters remove these tumour cells before reinfusion. Units of banked blood were inoculated with tumour cell lines: breast cancer SKBr3; colon cancer COLO 320; lymphoma Daudi; erythroleukaemia K562. After processing with the Cell Saver®, aliquots of the red cell concentrate and waste saline wash were examined for tumour cells and cultured. Tumour cells from all four cell lines were identified in the red cell concentrate but not in the waste saline wash. All the cell lines except Daudi grew from the red cell concentrate. Experiments on two of the cell lines (SKBr3 and COLO 320) were performed in which the red cell concentrate was either unfiltered (control) or filtered with SQ40S blood transfusion filter or RC100 leucocyte depletion filter. Both cell lines were present in the control samples and after filtration with SQ40S filters, and cells from these samples grew normally in culture. No tumour cells were evident after filtration with the RC100 filters and no growth of either cell line was found after 1 week in culture. The Cell Saver in combination with RC100 filters may be suitable for use during the surgical treatment of malignant disease.

PMID: 2070241 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


For more information on the cell saver and how it works click on Wiki Articles in the top right hand side of this page, or look at the box headed Key Wiki Articles in the lower right hand side of this page and click on "Intraoperative blood salvage."

You stated your node was in your groin. In that case the second surgery could be an aortic node dissection. In that case the Cell Saver would be very appropriate, as some of the nodes removed are on the Aorta.

You mentioned concerns about your blood contacting the air. With a Cell Saver your blood will contact the air, and be separated from your body. This is a major issue with some patients. There is a very good animation of Cell Saver operation at cell_saver which shows how the cell saver operates.

Uncle Bill
OR nurse for 30+years

Thanks to Unclebill & Informaticus. I am going to have my surgery done @ Moffitt Cancer Center soon. All of the information you have given me is very helpful in deciding what my conscience will allow me to do.