The authors report on 52 cases of acute normovolemic hemodilution carried out in the course of surgical operations planned in advance in the period from February to September, 1975. In this connection questions of method, indication and contro-indication as well as juridical and economic aspects are dealt with discussion. The advantages of acute normavolemic hemodilution by transfusing the patient's own blood taken from him some days before the operation are particularly stressed.