Abstract

Exposure of patients to allogeneic blood transfusion can be minimized or avoided by the systematic use of multiple blood conservation techniques. Current use of these technologies is variable.Review of pertinent English language literature.Enthusiasm for preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) has declined considerably, perhaps due to increased cost and inconvenience to patients. Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) has several practical advantages over PAD, but has not become generally accepted as a blood conservation strategy. Erythropoietin, iron, and artificial oxygen carriers are pharmacologic alternatives.Pharmacologic stimulation of erythropoiesis offers substantial potential to progress toward a goal of bloodless medicine. The potential of artificial blood substitutes is still being defined.

View details for DOI 10.1089/sur.2005.6.s1-3

View details for PubMedID 19284355