Methods	A randomised controlled trial was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of cell salvage during cardiac surgery at the University Hospital Sint Radboud, Nijmegen. Patients undergoing elective coronary bypass graft (CABG) surgery allocated on an alternating basis to one of two groups. The method of randomisation was not described
Participants	40 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) were randomised to one of two groups: Group 1 (Autotransfusion group): n=20; M//F=14//3; mean (sd) age = 64 (7.0) years Group 2 (Control group): n=20; M//F=17//3; mean (sd) age = 62 (10.0) years
Interventions	Group 1: Autotransfusion group received peri-operative autotransfusion of blood processed by means of the Cell-Saver III-plus system. The blood collected before going on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the remnant from the CPB machine were transferred into the cardiotomy reservoir through a 170um filter. Drain blood was collected during the first 6 hours post-operatively. Blood cell processing was performed by personnel in the Red Cross Blood Bank. Before transport to the blood bank the blood was transferred into labelled sterile one-litre bottles. After processing, the washed erythrocyte suspension was collected into labelled sterile bags and returned to the Operating Theatre (OT) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for re-infusion through a 40um blood filter. Blood was transfused up to 10 hours after the end of the operation. This allowed a maximum of 6 hours for collection, and an extra 4 hours for transport, processing and re-infusion to the patient. Group 2: Control group did not receive autotransfusion.
Outcomes	Outcomes reported: amount of blood collected by the cell saver, amount of blood retransfused from the cell saver, amount of allogeneic blood transfused, number of patients transfused allogeneic blood, adverse events, blood loss, Hb & Hct levels
Notes	Transfusion threshold: allogeneic packed cells were transfused to maintain an Hct at 30%
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors’ judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Method used to generate allocation sequences was not described
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	High risk	Method used to conceal treatment allocation was inadequate.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	High risk