Autologous blood in the treatment of intraoperative hemorrhage.

Severe hemorrhage associated with major trauma and vascular procedures is seen frequently in our operating rooms. Immediate autotransfusion has enabled us to safely and adquately correct blood losses without placing overwhelming demands on our blood bank. Since October 1973, a device capable of retrieving, filtering and reinfusing blood lost during operation has been used on 51 patients (major trauma, 20; ectopic pregnancy, 2; portacaval shunt, 9; peripheral vascular surgery, 20).