[Risk factors and frequency of adverse effects after autologous blood donation]

Autologous blood donation before elective surgery decreases the perioperative risk although donation itself can cause adverse effects. Are there specific donor characteristics, which influence the frequency and severity of adverse effects?

We investigated in a prospective study 3603 autologous blood donations including registration of patient's age, gender, height, weight, medical record and risk-score by Böcker. The adverse effects were divided into severity groups (SG). The investigation took place in a Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine in an university hospital. 1041 patients with preoperative autologous blood donation were investigated between January 1995 and April 1997.

7.4% of patients had adverse effects. Hypotension and bradycardia were the most frequent adverse effects. 4.3% of the adverse effects were graded as minimal (SG 1), 2.4% as mild (SG 2) and 0.7% as moderate (SG 3). The rate was higher in young donors (< 25 years). For all other donor characteristics including older age, cardiac or pulmonary diseases and high risk-score no higher donation risk was observed.

Adverse effects during and after autologous blood donation are rare. Predictor for reaction seems to be young age (< 25 years). Referring to donor's characteristics and predonation risk factors it is hardly possible to predict adverse effects. Thus, all autologous blood donors require adequate monitoring by a physician. Under these circumstances the autologous blood donation is a safe procedure even in patients with severe risk factors.