[Preoperative autologous blood donation]

There are three basic forms of the 170-year-old autologous blood transfusion. The intraoperative and perioperative autologous blood transfusion and the preoperative autologous blood donation and retransfusion. The latter is a preferred task of blood transfusion services. Indications and contraindications have to be carefully considered. Each step from the decision for autologous donation to the retransfusion has to be carried out with the same conscientiousness as any other preparation of blood units and performance of hemotherapy. Although the interest in autologous blood deposit has increased in the last 5 years the percentage of autologous blood donation is very small. In order to include all suitable patients in an autologous predeposit programme a close and understanding cooperation between hospitals and transfusion services is necessary. The frequency of autologous blood donations decreases if these requirements are not complied with.