To determine the amount of blood substitution required we evaluated in a retrospective analysis 68 consecutive patients that were operated on the infrarenal abdominal aorta 1990, 60 men with a mean age of 66 years (40-87) and 8 women, aged 73 years (62-85). Indications for treatment were: aneurysm (55) and occlusive disease (13). 21 aneurysms (45%) were ruptured and had to be operated as an emergency. Early lethality (less than 30 days) in this group was 19% (n = 4). In the other 47 patients there was no early mortality. Mean blood products transfusion requirements in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was: 18 (9-34) units of concentrated red cells, 16 (3-43) units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and 5 (0-19) units of concentrated red cells, 2 (0-7) units of FFP in the elective group. Main determinants of blood loss in the elective group were: the number of anastomoses and the preoperative status of the coagulant system. We conclude that in elective surgery of the infrarenal aorta homologous transfusion can be virtually eliminated if an entire autologous transfusion concepts is applied (predonation, intraoperative salvage, hemodilution and plasmapheresis).