[Autotransfusion protocol for patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery]

After reviewing the advantages of self-transfusional techniques, experience with 136 patients undergoing elective surgery is reported. In all cases treated, transfusional support was completely autologous, with a readily understandable saving in bank blood. Cases examined also show that sel-transfusional techniques represent an effective precautionary measure against thromboembolic complications and blood-related pathologies.