Dr. Elizabeth Culler / Contributed Photo Q. Should I donate blood for my upcoming surgery?
A. Donating blood for your own use during surgery is called an “autologous” donation. You should discuss it with your doctor. Advantages include reassurance that your blood is available, decreased risk of infectious disease transmission and decreased demand on the general blood supply. Autologous donation has been steadily declining nationwide due to its disadvantages, which include risk of reaction during donation and anemia following donation. Anemia increases the likelihood that you will require transfusion. About 50 percent of autologous units must be discarded because they can only be used by you. The cost is not always covered by insurance. You may begin donating six weeks before the anticipated transfusion date. You can donate every four days. We recommend your final donation be at least one week before the anticipated surgery so your body can recover. To donate you must have a written prescription, be healthy, infection-free and have a red cell count (hemoglobin) of 12.5 g/dL.
— Dr. Elizabeth Culler, Blood Assurance, member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
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