Anesthesia Technologist Complete Practice Exam 2025

The primary purpose of using an autotransfusion device is to recycle the patient’s own blood for transfusion. This device collects blood lost during surgery or trauma and processes it for reinfusion back into the same patient. By utilizing the patient’s own blood, autotransfusion minimizes the risks associated with receiving donor blood, such as transfusion reactions and infections. It is particularly beneficial in surgeries where significant blood loss is expected, helping to maintain the patient’s own blood volume and reduce the need for allogenic blood transfusions.

The other options do not accurately reflect the main function of an autotransfusion device. While it significantly reduces the reliance on donor blood, it doesn’t completely eliminate the need for donor blood in all situations. Storing blood for future surgeries is not within the scope of an autotransfusion device, as it is designed for immediate recycling rather than long-term storage. Additionally, maintaining high levels of oxygen in the body is a goal of overall anesthesia management, but it is not the specific function of an autotransfusion device.