The word autologous means using your own tissue or fluid in a treatment or procedure. An autologous blood patch is a procedure where blood is collected from one of your veins. This is then injected into your chest cavity through the chest drain that is already in place.

The injection of autologous blood through the thoracostomy tube, referred to as an autologous blood patch (ABP), may provide a simple and inexpensive treatment modality. An autologous blood patch is common in a wide variety of clinical practices, although its benefit is debated by others.