Autotransfusion of the residual blood from the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit is considered to be one of the methods enabling reduction in the need for transfusion, the possible adverse effects of which are well known and documented. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the autologous autotransfusion of centrifuged red blood cells from the residual blood of the CPB circuit in patients following heart surgery. Three groups of patients who underwent heart surgery were examined. The first group (Group 1) consisted of 37 patients who received all of the residual blood in the bypass circuit after CPB (collected into sterile plastic bags) during the early postoperative period. The second group (Group 2) consisted of 45 patients who did not receive the residual blood following CPB. The third group (Group 3) consisted of 42 patients who underwent reinfusion of centrifuged red blood cells from the residual blood remaining in the CPB circuit during the early postoperative period. Hematocrit (Hct) values 12 hours after the operation were found to be higher in Group 3 compared with those of the first and the second groups (by 13.2% and 11.1%, respectively). Blood loss during the first 12 hours after the operation and during the time spent in the intensive care unit did not differ between the groups. The number of transfusions was significantly lower in Group 3 (28.57%) in comparison with that of Groups 1 and 2 (37.83% and 38.10%, respectively). The rate of infective complications in Group 3 was lower in comparison with both Group 1 and Group 2 (9.2% and 18.1%, respectively). The duration of in-hospital stay in Group 3 was 25.8% shorter than Group 1. We conclude that autotransfusion of centrifuged red blood cells processed from the residual blood of the CPB circuit after CPB was effective in increasing Hct values 12 hours postoperatively, reducing the need for donor blood product transfusions, the rate of infective complications and lenght of stay in hospital.