Prospectus - Future trends in transfusion

There are several emerging trends in perioperative transfusion that are pro mising in terms of clinical practice. These include modifications in transf usion practice, changes in blood bank procedures and philosophy, the use of autologous transfusion methods, and the development of new artificial bloo d substitutes. Refinement of current techniques will continue, and will be driven by several factors. The most significant recent changes in surgical practice relating to blood transfusion include a decreased reliance on the use of arbitrary transfusion triggers, and the increased use of various for ms of autologous transfusion. Other clinical changes have been less obvious , such as changes in blood bank management practice. Similar factors drive the development of blood conservation strategies and artificial blood subst itutes or O-2 carriers. Both will play a role in reducing perioperative blo od loss. The most likely scenarios involve use of blood substitutes in conj unction with various methods of blood conservation. Recent advances in bloo d banking have made the donor blood supply safer than ever before. Progress in the clinical setting and in the laboratory have widened the possibiliti es for treatment of perioperative blood loss, with attention to minimizing risk and cost, and maintaining safety for the patient.