[Characteristics of an autologous blood donation program for children and adolescents of the Dresden University Clinic].

In a retrospective study 152 children and adolescents were selected from a collective of 3017 patients who participated in a predeposited autologous blood program from 1991 to 1995. 107 patients were female and 45 male. Average age was 14.4 years (range 6-18 years) and the body weights ranged from 27 to 79 kg. 90% underwent orthopedic surgery, 53% for scoliosis. Patients donated altogether 366 transfusion units (TE), an average of 2.4 TE was performed on each patient. Male patients had a higher level of hemoglobin than female and yielded the 4 autologous blood donations 5 days before female patients. Operation and hospitalization were completed by 44% without receiving any homologous blood, and 17% of patients needed only 1 homologous blood donation in addition to autologous blood. Preoperative blood donation led to no significant complications. We conclude that the autologous blood program is an effective and safe means of blood replacement, and is suitable for use in children and adolescents.