[Autotransfusion in elective surgery. Preliminary report on 215 cases].

Two-hundred and fifteen number of patients are presented, who underwent surgical procedures with the support of autologous blood transfusions. The latter have many advantages over traditional allogenic transfusions, such as diminished risk of infections, absence of blood compatibility problems and deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, through a preoperative controlled state of hemodilution. We have opted for a pre-operative technique, with harvest of blood, obtained before surgery, at quantity of 350 ml each 4 to 5 days. No early, nor late complications occurred, nor any postoperative hemoglobin or hematocrit decrease. The above data, together with a relevant reduction of cost per blood unit, to encourage a wide use of autologous blood transfusion, whenever feasible.