More Liberal Use of a Plasma Expander

More liberal use of a plasma expander in the treatment of operative and traumatic blood loss, with transfusions given only when the hematocrit was less than 30 per cent, reduced the amount of blood distributed by our blood bank. Blood consumed per patient admission dropped 35 per cent, and blood used by the surgical service decreased 320 ml per patient operated on; relative use of single unit transfusions decreased 47 per cent and relative use of plasma fell 50 per cent. Calculated amount of blood saved in the past year was 3863 units, and transfusion reactions avoided were 81. A plasma expander can be employed in properly limited amounts in patients suffering acute blood loss without detriment to the patient's clinical state and with a diminished need for whole blood.