The aim of deferred autotransfusion associated with the Cell-Saver system, i.e. the recovery of intraoperative blood loss, is to avoid using external homologous blood products. Transfusion-transmitted diseases and immunisation problems can be avoided: normovolumic haemodilution is an advantage in patients with coronary artery disease and economies can be made in the use of homologous blood. This technique has been in use in Professor Cabrol's department since 1987 with the help of the Blood Transfusion Centre of the Pitié Hospital. The contraindications are unstable angina, severe cardiac failure and anaemia of less than 11 g Hb at the first consultation. A review of the first 65 patients included in the protocol showed that deferred autotransfusion was well tolerated in all cases and that only 10 per cent of patients required transfusion with homologous blood. Autotransfusion associated with the Cell-Saver system is therefore a good method which should be extended to the largest possible number of patients referred for elective cardiac surgery.