A program for those who do not wish to receive transfusions of donor blood
Riverview Hospital's Blood Conservation Program is a comprehensive patient service that minimizes the use of blood from blood banks, an increasingly scarce resource, and honors requests by patients who do not wish to receive transfusions of donor blood. Our goal is to ensure access to high-quality medical and surgical care while respecting personal or religious convictions.
This program encompasses a wide range of elective and emergency procedures without the use of blood transfusions. Access to the latest advances in technology ensures maximum safety and comfort.
Beyond meticulous technique, our team of dedicated physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals is ready to provide the personal attention vital to restoring each patient to optimal health.
Why Choose Blood Conservation?
Blood conservation techniques have been demonstrated to decrease the risk of contracting blood-borne infections, of developing transfusion reactions, and of suppressing a patient's own immune system. Also, in some cases, religious beliefs may prohibit receiving blood transfusions.
Riverview's Blood Conservation Program:
- promotes patient choice in using blood products
- minimizes blood loss during surgery
- avoids the risk of infectious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis
- is accepted throughout many religious communities
- eliminates surgery delays due to blood shortages.
Cutting Edge Technology
The experience of our medical team is combined with the advanced technology necessary to meet the challenge of a successful Blood Conservation Program. This advanced technology includes:
- Electrosurgical and Ultrasonic Harmonic Scalpel Coagulators Coagulates or clots a patient's blood during surgery in order to reduce blood loss.
- Laser Surgical Techniques Carbon Dioxide, Holmium, Argon and YAG LASERS help create a bloodless surgical field.
- Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgery Less-invasive surgical techniques using cameras and small incisions limit potential bleeding sites and trauma to tissues.
- Cell Washer Continuously collects, washes, concentrates, and returns the patient's blood during surgery, minimizing the need for transfusions; available in closed continuous circuit.
- Volume Expanders Non-blood fluids administered intravenously to increase blood volume.
- Hemodilution Strategies Allows very dilute blood to be lost during surgery thereby minimizing total red blood cell loss.
- Autologous Blood Patient may donate his own blood prior to surgery or blood may be withdrawn into a continuous circuit outside the body to be saved for return at the end of surgery.
- Medicines to Stimulate Blood Formation Drugs administered to promote increase in red blood cells (erythropoeitin), white blood cells (Neupogen), or platelets (Neumega).
- Controlled Hypotension Keeping blood pressure somewhat lower than normal to decrease bleeding.
- Autologous Tissue Adhesives Products such as platelet gel and fibrin glue made from fractions of a patient's own blood; used to control bleeding and promote healing.
- Platelet Gel (Platelet Patch) Platelet gel is made from the patient's own blood and contains: platelets for clotting; growth hormones for healing; and white cells to fight infection