[Experience with autologous transfusion in obstetrics]

The consequences of homologous blood transfusion have a remarkable impact on the obstetric population which mainly consists of young healthy women. The risk involved in possible post-transfusion complications is directly proportional to the number of homologous blood units that are being transfused. Autologous transfusion is riskless for the fetus' well being. The main obstetrical problem is that it is impossible to foresee to the maximum extent all cases in need of blood transfusion which might get either an excessive amount or an insufficient amount of autologous transfusion. Blood predonation is the most suitable method in the obstetrics service. Reported below are the findings concerning the autologous transfusion experience performed by the OB/GYN Department at the Hospital San Daniele del Friuli, Udine for the period 1989-1993, where a new method of autologous donation was performed on 44 pregnant women who delivered by C-section. The autologous program is considered an easy one in the OB/GYN field, without complications for the fetus' well being and also feasible for small hospitals.