Efficacy of preoperative donation of blood for autologous use in radical prostatectomy

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Abstract
To determine the amount of blood lost, the number of transfusions, and the effectiveness of preoperative autologous blood donation in radical prostatectomy, 163 patients' records from 1987 to 1991 were reviewed at four university hospitals and three community hospitals. Calculated red cell volume lost was 1003 +/- 535 mL (mean +/- SD), which corresponds to 44 +/- 18 percent (mean +/- SD) of total red cell volume. Preoperative donation of blood for autologous use reduced the rate of transfusion of allogeneic blood from 66 to 20 percent (p < 0.001). Of the patients who donated 1 to 2 units, 32 percent received allogeneic blood; 14 percent of those who donated 3 units received allogeneic blood. Donation of 4 units reduced the allogeneic transfusion rate to 11 percent. However, as the number of units donated increased (1-3 units), the units not transfused also increased (0-21%). Ninety-one (56%) of 163 patients donated fewer than 3 units. Autologous blood donation is effective in minimizing the transfusion of allogeneic blood to radical prostatectomy patients, but many patients do not donate enough blood (< 3 units). The donation of 3 units of blood for autologous use is recommended for patients who undergo radical prostatectomy.