Limiting homologous blood exposure

Successful limitation of homologous blood transfusion may necessitate multiple strategies and advance planning. Preoperative and intraoperative autologous blood collection may have to be supplemented with hemostatic pharmacologic agents. The use of cytokines is increasing. More efficient use of directed donors can have an important role in blood use. As these expensive and time-consuming techniques become available, a major challenge will be to determine which patients may benefit from or really need them.