[Autologous blood transfusion in a department of gynaecological surgery]

A single unit of 350 ml of whole blood was drawn 8 days before surgery, from 50 patients of a gynecological clinic. Hysterectomy was performed in 44 cases. Haematological values did not show any significant modification and no side effects attributable to the phlebotomy was detected before or during surgery. In 88% of cases, the utilisation of autologous blood has avoided an homologous transfusion whose side effects are well known.