Autologous blood transfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Immediately prior to cardiopulmonary bypass, two units of blood were removed from each of 25 patients undergoing open-heart surgery, and the autologous blood was reinfused after cessation of support with the pump oxygenator. Pertinent data on blood balance and hematologic measurements were compared to a matched group of control subjects. There were no significant differences in the amount of operative or postoperative bleeding, the requirements for homologous blood and blood products, or the amount of protamine needed for neutralization of heparin.