title: Autologous blood transfusion.
abstract: Autologous blood transfusion--transfusion to the patient of his or her own blood--is of increasing importance in transfusion practice. There are three main techniques: pre-deposit, in which patients donate blood over a period of time in preparation for elective surgery; preoperative isovolaemic haemodilution, in which blood is removed in theatre immediately preoperatively and volume replacement is given, the blood being reinfused postoperatively; and salvage transfusion - the harvesting of blood shed at surgery or in similar circumstances, which is reinfused immediately or after concentration and purification. All these techniques can play a part in rendering transfusion safer and in economising on scarce supplies of donor blood.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000592:standards*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000379:methods*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male