autologous blood donation

autologous blood donation

Transfusion of a person's own blood. Blood may be taken some time prior to surgery, stored and then used, if necessary during or after surgery. Alternatively, one or two units of blood may be taken immediately before surgery and replaced by a non-blood infusion. This dilutes the patient's blood so that fewer red cells are lost in bleeding. The blood is then re-transfused at the end of surgery when no further blood loss is anticipated. The method became popular among patients when concern about HIV contamination of donated blood was at its height, but interest declined when HIV antibody testing was incorporated into donor screening and stringent criteria were required for donors. Studies have shown that autologous blood transfusion is uneconomical as a routine procedure.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005