Ｏｂｊｅｃｔｉｖｅ　To assess effects of sodium pyruvate solution used in autologous blood recovery on function of salvaged red blood cells (RBCs).　Methods　Thirty patients whose blood was autologously recovered and processed using a Dideco Electa device were enrolled．Fifteen patients undergoing elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were assigned to 0.9% sodium chloride solution group (C group), and fifteen patients undergoing elective total cystectomy were assigned to sodium pyruvate solution group (P group). Hemolytic ratio, P50 ［the oxygen partial pressure(PO2) corresponding to 50% saturation of the hemoglobin with oxygen］, 2,3-disphosphoglycerate(2,3-DPG), sodium(Na+), potassium(K+), lactic acid (Lac) and blood glucose (Glu) of venous RBCs (extracted from the patient's central vein when beginning to wash the collected blood in the reservoir, time T1), salvaged RBCs at 0 h(time T2), salvaged RBCs at 4 h(storage at 21-24 ℃，time T3) and salvaged RBCs at 24 h(storage at 1-6 ℃， time T4) of the two group were measured and compared.　Results　At time T1, there was no statistically significant difference between all indexes of two groups (P>0.05). At time T2, T3 and T4, there was no statistically significant difference between hemolytic ratio, Glu, 2,3-DPG and P50 value of two groups (P>0.05), but Na+, K+ and Lac value of C group were statistically significant higher than those values of P group (P<0.05).　Conclusions　The effect of sodium pyruvate solution as washing solution on salvaged RBCs was better than the effect of 0.9% sodium chloride solution.