[Secondary costs of the disposition of preoperatively withdrawn autologous blood preserves].

Preoperative autogenous blood (PAB) deposit programs are expensive. Aside from primary costs of preparing PAB, the user incurs major secondary costs from additional preadmission visits with the surgeon and from excess production, utilization and outdating of PAB (transfer into the allogeneic blood supply is not permitted here). These costs will exceed 200 Mio DM annually, increasing with better acceptance of PAB programs. However, PAB deposits are only indicated if transfusion incidence for the intended elective procedure exceeds 30%. Below that, preoperative, isovolemic hemodilution is considered the method of choice for limiting exposure to allogeneic blood.