[Autologous blood transfusion in thoracic and abdominal injuries]

Analysis of the experience with autologous blood transfusion of 6431 of blood to 570 patients who suffered thoracic and abdominal trauma showed that, when blood loss was compensated via autologous blood transfusion, lethality and number of purulent complications were lower than with the use of donor blood. Repeated examination of the hemostasis system demonstrated that massive reinfusion of blood led to the occurrence of transient disturbance (hypocoagulation) which did not require specific correction. Inference is made hat in the event of critical situations autologous blood transfusion is a permissible procedure even when hollow organs are injured. Considering the technical aspects of this problem, it appears that autologous blood transfusion is expedient both from clinical and from economical point of view.