[Experiences with autologous donation and transfusion equipment]

For autologous plasma predeposit there are commonly two types of cell-separators in use: 1. Discontinuous centrifugation (Plasma Collection System PCS, Haemonetics Company). 2. Discontinuous membrane filtration (Plasmapur-Monitor, Organon Teknika Company). Normally donation volume is 900 ml. The rate of undesired secondary effects does not exceed those numbers known of regular homologous donors. Shed wound blood processing by a wash-centrifuge cell separator (Type Cell-Saver, Haemonetics Company) stands for optimal quality of the refusable red blood cells. Depending on the type of operation and the accuracy of wound blood suction, up to 75% of the red blood cells lost may be harvested. In order to achieve more widespread mechanical autotransfusion, one issue is to lower the rather high costs of the disposables by simplifying the too highly sophisticated systems. From clinical experience with orthopedic patients, at least practical advice is given on how to use the single autologous transfusion methods in a comprehensive strategy.