[What gains are actually attained through acute preoperative haemodilution? (author's transl)].

The effect of haemodilution defined as a gain in volume of bodyowned erythrocytes amounts only 116 ml. This calculation assumes an acute haemodilution with four banket-blood and a blood-loss of 2,000 ml during the operation. In addition to this method--if considered useful at all--a conserve of bodyowned blood, to be taken ca. one week before the operation, is recommended.