Answer:
Jack Cohen reviewed the number of patients receiving blood transfusions during or soon after reduction mammoplasty over a 5.5 year period. Only 3 of 395 patients received a transfusion during that time period. Of note, most of the operations were performed with the routine infiltration of 50 cc of 0.5% xylocaine with 1:200,000 adrenalin preoperatively. He concluded that in otherwise healthy patients with a normal coagulation profile only a type and screen was necessary. Though some surgeons have put forth that autologous blood transfusions may speed recovery, studies by Clugston (PRS 1995; 95:824) and Yu (PRS 1994; 94:328) have shown no benefit in terms of postoperative hemoglobin level, length of hospital stay, or cost.