What does the term 'autologous transfusion' refer to?

The term 'autologous transfusion' refers specifically to a transfusion that uses the patient's own blood. This practice allows individuals to donate their own blood ahead of a scheduled surgical procedure or treatment, which can then be stored and used as needed. This method minimizes the risk of transfusion reactions and the transmission of infectious diseases, which can be a concern when blood is received from other donors.

Autologous transfusions are often encouraged in situations where there is a known risk of blood loss, allowing for safer and more compatible blood supply for the patient. The other options describe alternative forms of transfusion that do not involve the patient's own blood, such as using blood from unrelated donors or synthetic blood products, which do not encompass the definition of 'autologous.'