Strategies to reduce the need for peri-operative blood transfusion.

Therapeutic regimens involving the transfusion of blood components are a matter of debate, not only with regard to patients' safety, but also with regard to cost-effectiveness. The following different measures to reduce the use of blood components and their efficacy are discussed: autologous transfusion, including predonation, isovolaemic haemodilution and peri-operative retransfusion; toleration of a lower haematocrit; and measures to reduce blood loss. In particular, a combination of these methods may be most effective at reducing transfusion needs.