Autotransfusion in surgical practice.

The authors have used autotransfusion of intraoperatively collected blood in 58 vascular surgery cases over a period of more than two years. The clinical results confirm the experimental and laboratory studies on the quality of the autotransfused blood. A more liberal use of intraoperative autotransfusion is advocated.

[Autotransfusion in surgical practice (author's transl)].

From their experiences on animals and from its surgical applications the authors can say that the procedure of autotransfusion in vascular operations is worthwhile and safe. Elements of blood auto transfused are a little or not at all altered. Autotransfusion reduces requiremnts of bank blood, rare and containing risks.