Intraoperative autotransfusion.

Intraoperative autotransfusion (IAT) was proposed in 1818 by Blundell. In 1968 Klebanoff introduced the modern IAT system (Bently ATS-200) which can suck blood from the operative field and infuse up to 900 ml/min into the patient again. Ten patients in this series were autotransfused a median of 2275 ml blood during aortoiliac surgery for occlusive arterial disease. Blood samples taken before, during and after surgery showed no significant changes attributable to IAT, except for a minor decrease in the platelets. Total heparinization for elective vascular surgery and citrate (ACD or CPD) for emergencies is recommended. IAT was found safe, easy to operate, efficient in handling large quantities of blood and relatively inexpensive. Furthermore autotransfused blood--in contrast to bank blood--has a normal content of platelets and labile clotting factors.