A simplified device for intraoperative autotransfusion

Intraoperative autotransfusion, a widely accepted adjunct in many surgical disciplines, has been underused in obstetrics and gynecology. This report describes a new device for autotransfusion that is simpler to operate than traditional systems requiring a technician. The device was used successfully in two obstetric patients with life-threatening intraoperative hemorrhage, one with abdominal pregnancy and the other with postpartum hemorrhage. The patients received autotransfusions of 1700 and 2200 mL, respectively, without incident. Advantages of autotransfusion over banked blood include avoidance of alloimmunization, reduction of transfusion reactions and blood-borne infections, less expense, and acceptance by most religious groups. Disadvantages include potential hemolysis and limited usefulness in the presence of bacterial contamination or malignancy. On balance, the benefits of autotransfusion outweigh the risks.