[Blood transfusions in maxillofacial surgery]

In the last few years a codification of maxillo-facial surgical techniques has been reached. This has been possible because of a close interaction among different specialists. The use of blood transfusion must be carefully evaluated because of the different risks involved. The transmission of infectious agents like HIV and HCV viruses is still a matter of major concern. Furthermore, Gant in a '81 issue of Lancet suggested that blood transfusion in oncological patients may lead to neoplastic relapse by depressing the immune system. Other studies seem to confirm these data, although statistical evaluation of the results was not free of oriticism. Nevertheless, it appears that there is a correlation between the amount of transfused blood and the worsening of the prognosis. We take into consideration the risk of depressing the immune system by transfusing homologous blood. We then define the forensic medical problems related to blood transfusion also in view of recent sentences of the Court on the subject.