[Autologous blood transfusion in surgical interventions]

By the autologous blood-transfusion we understand the dose of own blood in contrary to strange blood. The advantageous of the method are well-known. But nevertheless the own-transfusion is rarely realized. By the immune infirmity AIDS this method is of pressing importance at the present time. In orthopaedics and the traumatology of the movement mechanism especially selected operations and delayed emergency-operations are qualified for the autologous blood-transfusion. Regarding a ten years positive experience we introduce a simple and safe method which is also commonly used in the regional hospital in Langenthal since summer 1986. It is a combination of a pre-operative own-blood-transfusion and the "isovolumic" actual blood-dilution. 158 patients have been analysed which have been treated by this method. The most frequently operation has been the total hip replacement 85% of the analysed persons could be operated without any strange blood and totally 426 times autologous blood donation could be received within 26 months. That safe and simple method can be managed in the hospital by an engaged but moderate display and it is recommended especially for average and small hospitals.