What is the technique and indications for autotransfusion in a dog with hemoabdomen?

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Autotransfusion in dogs with hemoabdomen is indicated when acute hemorrhagic shock requires immediate volume resuscitation and allogeneic blood products are unavailable, expensive, or insufficient to meet demand. The procedure is contraindicated if there is any concern for contamination with urine, gastrointestinal contents, bile, or bacteria; cytology, lactate, glucose, and creatinine of the abdominal effusion should be performed prior to collection to rule out these sources of contamination.4 Three distinct techniques have been described in dogs. The simplest is the two-syringe technique: blood is collected from the abdominal cavity by the surgeon intraoperatively and passed to an assistant, who transfers it to a second syringe for direct intravenous administration through an inline blood filter.1 A cell saver (CS) device offers a more advanced alternative — it processes and washes collected blood, with the added advantage of filtering leukocytes and neoplastic cells, making it particularly relevant in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma.34 A third option is an ultrafiltration device (Hemosep), which has been described for acute intraoperative hemorrhage in a dog when blood loss reached 20% of estimated blood volume within 30 minutes.8 Preoperatively, a small-bore wire-guided peritoneal catheter can be placed percutaneously to collect blood for autotransfusion before surgery, potentially enabling faster drainage than needle paracentesis and reducing the need for repeated percutaneous puncture.2 A blood filter is recommended for all redelivery techniques to limit microaggregates that may provoke an inflammatory response. An 18-μm filter is one described option.4 No anticoagulant is required when using the two-syringe or direct collection approach, as defibrination of blood pooled in the peritoneal cavity typically prevents clotting.4 Autotransfusion produces hematocrit increases comparable to allogeneic transfusion. In dogs with acute hemoperitoneum of splenic origin