Establishment of a centralized team for preoperative autologous blood collection

Abstract

Autologous blood transfusion is currently considered to be the safest among blood transfusion methods. However, it still has adverse events and risks during collection, storage and transfusion of blood. To minimize the adverse events and risks, a centralized team for preoperative autologous blood collection was established in January 2010 with great effort of medical staff including doctors, nurses and technologists. In addition, a standard operating procedure of preoperative autologous blood collection in our hospital was established. As a result, potential adverse events and risks were reduced. Furthermore, we have been able to have more time to have discussion for the reduction of risks in each patient requiring autologous blood transfusion.