Blood conservation.

The importance of blood conservation to minimize homologous blood use after cardiac surgery is well-accepted. The most successful programs to this end are the products of an integrated approach to blood conservation that begins with preoperative patient screening and carries through the postoperative period. Salvage and reinfusion of shed blood both intra- and postoperatively are important components of any such program. Other practices that help reduce blood loss and decrease the use of banked blood are also important. It is the combination of techniques and a consistent philosophy regarding the importance of blood conservation that will yield the best results. Programs that decrease the use of banked blood help today's cardiac surgeon provide safer, less costly operations for his or her patients.