Autologous Procedure

Hemodilution

What it is

Blood is drawn immediately before surgery and replaced with IV fluids. The blood is returned to the patient after surgery, reducing the loss of concentrated blood.

If you accept vs. refuse

Accept Why some people accept

Uses your own blood — drawn immediately before surgery and returned after
Reduces the concentration of red cells lost during surgery
Blood never leaves the operating room — stays connected via IV line
Simple technique available at most surgical facilities

Refuse Why some people refuse

Blood is temporarily stored outside the body in collection bags
Some consider this equivalent to storing blood, which conflicts with their beliefs
Less studied than cell salvage for efficacy

Related concepts

Topic Patient Blood Management An evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to optimizing the care of patients who might need transfusion. Endorsed by the WHO since 2010.

Topic Surgical Blood Management Techniques and protocols to minimize blood loss during surgery: controlled hypotension, meticulous hemostasis, cell salvage, and hemodilution.

Autologous Procedure Cell Salvage A technique that collects blood lost during surgery, washes and filters it, then returns it to the patient. No donor blood involved.Autologous Procedure Heart-Lung Bypass Blood is circulated through an external machine (cardiopulmonary bypass) during cardiac surgery. The patient's own blood is used throughout.

Glossary Autologous From oneself. Autologous procedures use the patient's own blood, not blood from a donor.

Medical references

Shander et al. (2004) Alternatives to Blood Transfusion. British Journal of Anaesthesia. Landmark paper on non-blood strategies. →Vaislic et al. (2003) Cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witness patients: ten-year experience. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. →Carless et al. (2010) Cell salvage for minimising perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion. Cochrane Review. Gold-standard evidence for cell salvage efficacy. →

In your Directive

Your directive will indicate that you consent to acute normovolemic hemodilution during surgery.

Make this choice in your Directive

Your blood product decisions are recorded clearly and shared with your Care Team.

Create your Directive