Transfusion
Free Surgery
• What
is Transfusion free Surgery
• Frequently asked questions
• Approaches to Transfusion Free Medicine and Surgery
What
Is Transfusion Free Medicine & Surgery?
Transfusion Free medicine and surgery is an advanced method
of providing medical care without using donated or banked blood.
Transfusion Free medicine utilizes state-of-the-art techniques
to minimize blood loss before, during, and after treatments for
many illnesses. This sophisticated approach permits doctors to
care for patients without using additional blood products* because
each patient retains enough of his or her own blood for medical
procedures.
This
leading-edge technology began years ago in response to concerns
about the
safety of the nation’s blood supply.
Now, Transfusion Free medicine and surgery is an accepted modern
specialty. The Transfusion Free approach has been found to speed
healing and hasten the recovery process. Realizing the potential
health benefits of the Transfusion Free approach, some hospitals
now offer Transfusion Free medicine programs as part of their
overall patient care program.
The
term Transfusion Free indicates “transfusion-free” care,
but does not mean that there will be no blood loss during a specific
medical treatment. Our program provides the patient with the
best possible medical and surgical care without the use of blood
or its components. This is accomplished by developing a specific
treatment plan for each patient, utilizing a variety of alternatives
to transfusions and blood products. As a participant in the Transfusion
Free Medicine and Surgery Program at Columbia Memorial Hospital,
you can be assured that the health care team providing your treatment
will respect your personal beliefs and wishes.
*Pursuant to New York state law, Columbia Memorial Hospital and
its physicians cannot guarantee that we will not use blood
under all circumstances when treating children, especially
during life-threatening conditions.
Columbia
Memorial Hospital now offers the Capital Region’s
first comprehensive Transfusion Free Medicine and Surgery Program,
joining the ranks of fewer than 100 such programs nationwide.
Transfusion
Free Medicine and Surgery provides alternative treatment options
for patients who do not wish to be treated with blood
transfusions for either personal or religious reasons. Columbia
Memorial Hospital’s staff of physicians, technicians and
nurses is dedicated to supporting patients’ wishes and
fully understands and upholds the philosophy of Transfusion Free
treatment.
The mission of our program is to reduce the need for blood transfusions
for all patients by working diligently to minimize the amount
of blood a patient loses before, during and after treatment.
Our program utilizes a number of sophisticated advances in treatment
such as intraoperative cell salvage, normovolemic hemodilution,
and deliberate hypotension.
Columbia
Memorial Hospital is also committed to meeting the needs of
our Jehovah’s Witness patients. Our physicians
and staff have been educated regarding the deeply held religious
beliefs that prohibit Jehovah’s Witnesses from receiving
blood transfusions or care involving blood-related products and
have developed treatment plans based on alternative options.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why should I become a Transfusion Free Medicine and Surgery
Patient?
Blood transfusions have been shown to depress the immune system.
As a result, patients who receive a transfusion may have a higher
incidence of infection, longer hospitalization, and, for some
types of cancer, a higher rate of recurrence. Many people are
also concerned about the safety of the blood supply and the potential
for the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis
and AIDS. The program provides patients with alternative methods
of treatment utilizing non-blood management techniques, thereby
reducing the risks of potential blood-related complications.
How is Transfusion Free care different?
Transfusion
Free care is a philosophy that is practiced throughout our
institution. Transfusion Free care is not just about new
medical procedures, but rather it constitutes a variety of medical
therapies developed to minimize blood loss and maximize the oxygen-carrying
capacity of a patient’s blood. Transfusion Free therapies
utilize accepted standard protocols for minimizing blood loss.
All interested patients will receive information and counseling
on the risks of refusing blood and blood products.
Am I a candidate for the Transfusion Free Medicine and Surgery
Program?
Every
patient who prefers to avoid blood or blood products, or for
whom transfusions
of blood products are not an option
due to religious beliefs, is a potential candidate for the Transfusion
Free Medicine and Surgery Program. Each patient’s situation
is reviewed with his or her physician to ensure that an appropriate
final decision is made.
How do I enroll in the Transfusion Free Medicine and Surgery
Program?
For additional information or to pre-enroll in our Transfusion
Free Medicine and Surgery Program, simply contact our coordinator
for an appointment at 518.828.7601..
Program
Coordinator
The
Program’s Coordinator is available 24 hours a day
for both emergency and scheduled admissions. The Coordinator
will track each patient’s care from the time of admission
to discharge, ensuring that all individual needs are met. The
coordinator’s goal is to ensure the highest quality of
medical care possible and to act as a liaison between the patient
and the patient's family with physician and staff. Our Coordinator
also maintains a directory of physicians who are trained in the
most advanced Transfusion Free treatment techniques.
Approaches to Transfusion Free Medicine and Surgery
Intraoperative
Blood Salvage (Cell Saver) – The patient’s
own blood that is lost during surgery is collected, cleaned and
returned to the patient.
Deliberate
Hypotension – The patient’s blood pressure
is purposely lowered to a safe level during surgery to minimize
the amount of blood loss.
Acute
Normovolemic Hemodilution – The patient’s
own blood is withdrawn after the induction of anesthesia, replaced
with a diluting fluid during the surgery, and then returned at
the end of the surgery.
Volume
Expanders – Intravenous
fluids are used to boost the circulatory system to compensate
for any blood lost during
surgery.
Synthetic
Erythropoietin – In preparation for surgery,
a synthetic medication is used to stimulate the bone marrow to
produce red blood cells.
Oximetry – A specialized monitor allows physicians to
track and maximize the amount of oxygen contained in a patient’s
blood.
Blood
Conservation Techniques – The amount of blood
drawn for testing is dramatically diminished, and the number
of tests
is kept to an absolute minimum.
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