Autologous Or Allogeneic Transfusion

In the science of transfusion, there is currently only two options when a PRBC transfusion is needed; an autologous or allogeneic transfusion. An autologous transfusion is when the blood of a single patient is collected and is retransfused into the same patient when needed. An allogeneic transfusion is when blood donated from an anonymous donor is transfused.
There are 3 methods for providing an autologous transfusion; cell salvage, preoperative autologous donation (PAD) and acute normovolaemic haemodilution (ANH). In cell salvage, blood that is collected from surgical drains and/or suctions is retransfused into the patient after filtration/washing. To retransfuse suctioned blood, it is first heparinized and filtered. The blood then enters
bowel and cesarean surgeries). Incorrect use of the devices used in this process can also result in necrosis of the handled RBCs and air embolism. This can lead to pyrexia, which is commonly reported when the salvaged blood is not washed properly. In the second method; PAD, the patient gives blood donations of ~450 ml every few days up to 5 weeks prior to their surgery. This process allows for the collection of up to 4 units of blood. The advantages of this technique are that the risk of postoperative infection is reduced, as is the recurrence of cancer. The disadvantages of this process are that it requires a significant amount of planning which could be problematic for surgeries scheduled at short notice, there is room for clerical error, and not all PAD patients can tolerate this rigorous routine. Another key disadvantage is that it is also very difficult to maintain the equilibrium of erythropoiesis and hemoglobin in this process, causing a lower preoperative Hb, curtailing some of the benefits. In the third method; AHN, A large-bore cannula is inserted, allowing the collection of 15-29 ml kg-1 before the operation commences. It is executed in the operating