Autologous blood transfusion in urology

In a total of 67 urological patients (24 transurethral resections of the prostate, 30 transvesical resections of the prostate and 13 radical prostatectomies) the blood lost during the operation was collected by using the Haemonetics cell saver, washed and cleaned of cells, haemoglobin and plasma haemoglobin and retransfused to the patients in the form of erythrocyte concentrate. When patients lose a large volume of blood, the lost plasma volume and the lost clotting factors must be substituted: in addition to electrolyte and colloidal solutions we use autologous fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Preoperatively we usually obtain FFP from the patient by plasmapheresis. All patients have tolerated the preoperative plasmapheresis very well and also the subsequent retransfusion of the intraoperatively saved autologous blood. Only 1 patient (who unexpectedly suffered a postoperative haemorrhage) received homologous blood; in other cases no homologous transfusion became necessary despite blood losses of up to 4500 ml.