Use of synthetic oxygen carriers to facilitate oxygen delivery

A method for facilitating autologous blood use by a patient facing a loss of blood during surgery, comprising the steps of:

• removing and storing a portion of the patient's blood;
• intravenously administering a hemodiluent to said patient in conjunction with the removing step in a volume at least
• as great as the volume of blood removed, thereby increasing the cardiac output of the patient;
• thereafter initiating a surgical procedure on said patient, said surgical procedure involving a loss of blood;
• administering an effective oxygen-delivery enhancing amount of a biocompatible synthetic oxygen carrier to said patient during said surgical procedure;
• and
• administering a breathing gas to said patient during said surgical procedure, said breathing gas being enriched with a concentration of 50%-100% oxygen.