[Emergency blood supplies and their use in elective surgery. Background and directives for rational blood reservation and transfusion strategy].

It cannot be anticipated that the increasing requirements for blood and blood components will be covered by proportionate expansion in gross supply. Blood component therapy, i.e. specific substitution of clinically important deficiencies, is recommended. In addition to being clinically rational, this principle of treatment provides enhanced utilization of resources, product quality and transfusion safety. By reviewing the literature, an unjustified excess of blood ordering and crossmatching was demonstrated in elective surgery. Practical application of Type and Screen (T&S) and thorough revision of preoperative blood ordering policies are safe and resource-saving measures, and guidelines such as these are proposed.