Blood loss is a major problem in the management of patients with burns
treated by early excision and grafting. Acute normovolaemic haemodilu
tion has been successfully used in cardiac surgery for many years but
has not been reported previously in surgery for burns. The technique h
as been used in six patients with burns undergoing early excision and
grafting, with no obvious morbidity and an apparent reduction in homol
ogous blood requirements.