Anesthesia Technologist Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The classification of autotransfusion primarily revolves around various collection and reinfusion techniques used to recover a patient’s blood during surgery. The three types—intraoperative salvage, predonation, and acute normovolemic hemodilution—represent distinct methods utilized for blood conservation.

Intraoperative salvage involves the collection of blood loss during surgery, which is then processed and reinfused back into the patient. This method is particularly effective in surgeries with significant blood loss, allowing for rapid recovery of blood volume.

Predonation refers to a practice where patients donate their own blood prior to an operation, which can then be used for transfusion during or after the procedure. This strategy minimizes the risk of transfusion-related complications, as the blood is from the patient.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution is a technique whereby blood is drawn from a patient just before or after anesthesia is administered, while simultaneously infusing crystalloids to maintain blood volume. The drawn blood is then reinfused back into the patient, typically at the end of the procedure.

These methods are fundamental in the practice of autotransfusion as they emphasize patient blood preservation and reduce reliance on donor blood, making option B the correct choice.