Summary At the same time as cell salvage was introduced into our institution for all patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, we established a supporting programme of quality assurance to reassure clinicians regarding safety and efficacy. Data collected in patients operated on between 2001 and 2007 included pre‐ and post‐wash heparin concentration, haemoglobin concentration and free haemoglobin concentration. Cell salvage was used in 6826 out of a total of 7243 patients (94%). Post‐wash heparin concentration was consistently low (always < 0.4 IU.ml−1). There was a significant decrease in post‐wash haemoglobin concentration in 2003 compared to 2001, from a median (IQR [range]) of 19.6 (16.7–22.2 [12.9–25.5]) g.dl−1 to 17.5 (13.6–20.8 [12.6–23.7]) g.dl−1 (p < 0.015). In addition, there was a significant increase in free plasma haemoglobin in 2006 compared to 2001, from 0.5 (0.3–0.8 [0.1–2.6]) g.l−1 to 0.8 (0.3–1.4 [0.3–5.2]) g.l−1 (p < 0.001). This programme led to the detection of a change in operator behaviour in 2003 and progressive machine deterioration resulting in appropriate fleet replacement in 2006. You can respond to this article at http://www.anaesthesiacorrespondence.com

Solitary plasmacytoma most commonly presents in bone (80%), while extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is an uncommon (20%) entity that most commonly involves nasopharynx or upper respiratory tract. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract occurs in approximated 10% of EMP cases, in that also solitary EMP of the rectum is an exceedingly rare entity. Here we are presenting a case of 55-year-old male patient who was diagnosed to have EMP of rectum in September 2012 who was initially operated in which de-bulking surgery with abdominoperineal resection was done with large residual lesion postoperatively. Then patient was treated with postoperative radiotherapy (RT) with conventional portals 40 Gy in 20 fractions with complete response at 3 months. Patient was followed-up until now (1 year and 2 months post-RT), without any symptom or recurrence.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract