Use of autologous blood in general surgery

Background/Aims: Autologous blood predonation is still not as widespread as it should be in general surgery practice, even if the method is well-known and has benefits established in international literature. Authors describe the impact of an autotransfusion program, in a general surgery university department, focusing on management and cost problems. Methodology: A description of the efficacy of the program during a yearlong activity period is presented. An analysis has been made about the quantity of predonated blood/plasma units, the quantity actually transfused and use of homologous blood. The problems which occurred and the cost are discusse d. Results: The most used autotransfusion method was preoperative predeposit o f autologous blood. The analysis of results focused on some organizational problems that;need to be avoided in order to show the methods maximum benef its. In a large number of cases (some 50%) predeposit was not made because of several managing/technical problems. In another large number of cases (3 8%) the quantity of units predonated did not fully supply the needs and sev eral patients received homologous products. In another number of cases pred onated blood units were not used at all (61/34%). Conclusions: Predeposit, preoperative hemodilution and intraoperative recov ery, are methods that should all be available in a general surgery departme nt to manage in the best way the single patients blood/plasma needs, reduci ng post-transfusion complication. To optimize the program and minimize wast e some guidelines must be established, with the aim of a rational and corre ct use of the procedure. Despite the value of the method, and the favor enc ountered by the patients,:we must not forget that the use of autologous blo od is not costless.