[Autologous blood transfusion in elective mouth, jaw, and facial surgery. Experience with 53 patients].

From June 1987 to July 1989 53 patients with elective operations donated their own blood for a later possible retransfusion. Although autologous transfusion was time-consuming nearly all patients accepted this method because they received the safest of all possible transfusions. So preoperative psychological anxieties could be reduced and the decision for the operation was made easier.