Only certain kinds of surgery are likely to require blood transfusions. Talk with your surgeon about what your chances are for needing transfused blood. Self-donated blood can be collected a pint a week for up to 6 weeks before the date of use. This allows your system time to replenish its blood volume before surgery. Your own blood does not need to be screened like random donor blood does.
Technology now allows blood lost in surgery to be collected and transfused back to the patient.
Not all blood lost can be saved, but the recycling procedure often allows enough to be saved to avoid using donor blood. The procedure has its own risks and is not right for all patients. All Rights Reserved.