title: A direct patient approach for pre-operative autologous blood donation and transfusion.
abstract: A patient-motivated pre-operative autologous blood transfusion service is described. The programme is organized and staffed by members of the Transfusion Service. In this programme patients who are enrolled for preoperative autologous blood collection are selected from elective surgical waiting lists without a formal referral from the surgeon. Since starting the scheme the average number of units donated per month has increased from 8 to 33 and complications have been minor. The system has proved to be practical and cost-effective, and it has a definite place as part of an overall approach to the prevention of transfusion-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Department, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Roxby
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seshadri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Morley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D013997:Time Factors