[The use of autotransfusion in general surgery].
Authors expose their experience with autotransfusion, made during several years in a general surgery university department. Discussion is made about ethic and economical aspect of the philosophy guiding the most general concept of blood sparing, and different methods of autotransfusion; attention is then focused on practical experience made during two years (1995-1997) when the program worked well. On the whole, in 94 patients, 172 blood units were collected plus 10 plasma units obtained by aferesis. No method-related complications are have been observed. Elements who corresponded to difficulties or obstacles to the fully application of the method have been critically analyzed. Authors propose finally guide-lines which want to be valid proposal to increase method use while respecting at the best ethics, economics, efficacy and efficiency that must guide our work.
D'Amato
A
A
Clinica Chirurgica VI, Dipartimento di II Clinica Chirurgica, Università di Roma La Sapienza. damatoa@uniroma1.it
Nigri
G
G
Pronio
A
A
Montesani
C
C
Ferrazza
G
G
Rusignolo
A
A
Solinas
S
S
Ribotta
G
G
D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014481:United States