Objective: The state of the art of autologous blood transfusion is described with special emphasis on safety aspects, indications and medicolegal implications.
Data sources and selection criteria: Literature was retrieved using the MEDLINE literature database. Medical and legal expert opinions on autologous blood transfusion programmes are presented as well as the actual German jurisdiction. Guidelines for autologous predeposit and haemodilution used in the University of Münster are described.
Results: In the past decade all forms of autologous transfusions gained increasing influence in haemotherapy due to the ongoing discussion on the safety of blood products. The German Federal Court has demanded that whenever homologous perioperative transfusion is considered likely, patients have to be offered autologous predeposit. Legal conditions for autologous programmes directed by anaesthetists not specialised in transfusion medicine are described. Whole-blood predeposit should be limited to two autologous units. In cases with minor blood loss, isovolaemic haemodilution may be performed instead of autologous predeposit. However, autologous transfusions have their specific risks that are either related to the patient or to the procedure of autologous predeposit, e.g., clerical error, contamination of blood products and technical faults. Standard procedures of the University of Münster to ensure low-risk autologous transfusion are presented. They consist in adequate handling and proper identification, testing of donor for virus infection markers, bacterial culture from blood products and a list of contraindications: anaemia, unstable angina, myocardial infarction within 3 months, decompensated heart insufficiency, aortic valve stenosis with angina, and cases with infection and fever.
Conclusion: The risks related with autologous transfusion should be lower compared to homologous transfusions. Well-defined standards concerning indications and techniques are required to reach this goal.