Approach to decision to use intraoperative blood salvage

RBC: red blood cell; TXA: tranexamic acid.

* Refer to UpToDate content on surgical blood conservation: blood salvage.

¶ Many Jehovah's Witness patients will accept autologous blood only if it remains connected via tubing to the patient's intravascular system.

Δ Refer to UpToDate content on topical hemostatic agents and tissue adhesives.

◊ Major surgical procedures with a high likelihood of transfusion (eg, cardiac, major vascular, major orthopedic, trauma, transplantation, and selected urologic, gynecologic, neurosurgical, and plastic surgical procedures).