Autologous transfusion: a community blood bank experience

Interest in the use of autotransfusion has increased greatly, as can be ascertained by looking at usage patterns and literature citations when compared to recent past years. In this paper, we discuss different autotransfusion methods, as well as the clinical experience of a community blood bank over a 3 1/2-year period with predeposited autologous transfusions for elective surgical procedures. Blood collected in Adenine-Saline (AS-1) preservatives allows up to 42 days of storage in liquid state after donation. An average of 2.4 units per donor-patient were drawn, with almost two thirds of them being reinfused during or immediately after surgery. Even though the results of cost analysis and efficiency are far from optimal, autologous transfusion remains an effective albeit expensive alternative to homologous transfusion.