Minimised use of donated blood
By developing an extensive graduated concept for autohemotranfusions a particular priority in the surgical area was created. Foreign blood is no longer required for the majority of surgeries (except for those on malignant tumours and inflammable tissues) due to pre-operative blood donations as well as by reclaiming blood the patient looses during a surgery.
The RKU generally applies measures to exclude the necessity of foreign blood usage for all larger operations with a predictable high blood loss. Thus, these patients planned for such a surgery go to donate their own blood approximately 4 weeks prior to surgical treatment, there being withdrawn either blood plasma or red blood cell concentrate or both blood components altogether.
Also the blood the patient looses in the course of the surgery is collected in special containers for later on-demand mechanical processing in the so called cellsaver. Following a "washing" procedure, the erythrocytes can then be returned to the patient. The same method of recycling is applied for retaining the red blood cells from the wound drainages right after the surgery. Following bleeding arrest at surgery completion, the blood plasma as well as the red blood cell concentrate is principally returned to the patient later at the anaesthetic recovery room or the intensive care unit, if circumstances so require.