Acute haemodilution in surgery for burns: a preliminary report

Blood loss is a major problem in the management of patients with burns treated by early excision and grafting. Acute normovolaemic haemodilution has been successfully used in cardiac surgery for many years but has not been reported previously in surgery for burns. The technique has been used in six patients with burns undergoing early excision and grafting, with no obvious morbidity and an apparent reduction in homologous blood requirements.