Primer on blood salvage: implications for the hospital pharmacist.

With a basic understanding of intraoperative and postoperative blood salvage procedures, pharmacists can use their expertise in pharmacology and pharmacokinetics to answer questions regarding drug disposition during blood salvage. The methods and equipment, as well as the indications for its use are described. Pharmacological considerations include the patient's drug regimen, agents used in the surgical field including irrigation solutions, hemostats, and the anticoagulant used in the salvage system. In addition to providing drug information, the pharmacist should be involved in the admixing of the anticoagulant solutions used in the salvage system. A basic bibliography for the subject is provided.