Transfusion of banked autologous blood was used for intraoperative and postoperative blood replacement in 178 patients. Up to 4 units of blood can safely be drawn within ten days before operation. Each phlebotomy was followed by the intravenous administration of 250 mg of iron dextran injection (Imferon) to furnish the bone marrow with adequate iron for red blood cell replacement. All patients came to surgery with hemoglobin levels greater than 10 gm/100 ml and hematocrit values greater than 30%. None showed clinical evidence of blood volume depletion. Autologous transfusion avoids almost all of the problems associated with homologous transfusion; most importantly, it avoids transmission of hepatitis.