RESUMEN
In order to study the hematologic repercussions of pre-operative autotransfusion, ruptures were made in experimental spleens followed by retransfusion after intraperitoneal barbotage of long duration in 8 dogs. This was performed without any heparinization. The following facts could be established:--although the blood shed was rich in red globules, it presented major alterations with a loss of clotting agents and evidence of fibrinogenic degradating elements.--A study of the blood during the transfusion and after the intervention did not reveal any intravascular coagulation but only a loss of fibrinogen and thrombocytes proportional to the amount of autotransfused blood. The limit of haemostatic tolerance with no supply of external blood was an autotransfusion ranging about 75 p. 100 of the initial blood volume.