Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8938658 | British Journal of Anaesthesia | 2007 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that preoperative haemoglobin concentration and female gender are related to an increased need for perioperative allogeneic transfusions in cardiac surgery. Hence, urgent cardiac surgery presents a dilemma for female patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses, because of their refusal of allogeneic transfusion. This report describes the management of four high-risk anaemic female patients undergoing urgent complex cardiac surgery. In these Jehovah's Witness patients, strict application of a comprehensive blood-sparing protocol permitted safe avoidance of allogeneic transfusions. The protocol involved intraoperative acute normovolaemic haemodilution, intraoperative administration of tranexamic acid, intra- and postoperative use of a cell-saver system, postoperative administration of erythropoietin, iron and folic acid, and a careful surgical technique to avoid perioperative bleeding.
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Authors
V. Casati, A. D'Angelo, L. Barbato, D. Turolla, F. Villa, M.A. Grasso, A. Porta, F. Guerra,