Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Bloodless Surgery

(Surgery, Bloodless; Bloodless Medicine; Medicine, Bloodless)

by Marjorie Montemayor-Quellenberg, MA

Definition

Bloodless surgery is done without the use of donor blood. Bloodless surgery may include:

Save and reinfuse the patient’s own blood
Medicine that will boost the body's ability to make blood
Surgery options that have as little blood loss as possible
Medicine that improves clots and slows or stops bleeding

Reasons for Procedure

Blood can be lost during surgery. It is often replaced with blood from a donor. Some may not want to receive donated blood. Reasons may include:

Concerns about blood-borne diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis
Complications from a previous blood transfusion
Religious beliefs

Bloodless surgery is an option for those who do not want or cannot have a donor blood transfusion.

Bloodless surgery may also lead to:

Quicker recovery time
Shorter hospital stay
Faster wound healing
Fewer blood transfusion complications

Possible Complications

Your doctor will review problems that can occur with bloodless surgery. Complications from bloodless surgery may include a bad reaction to medicine or fluids that are needed.

Smoking may increase the risk of complications. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how you can quit.

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Your doctor will:

Do a physical exam
Order tests
Give you instructions to prepare for surgery

If your blood will be needed, it will be collected before the surgery. You may be given treatments to help replace the blood. This may include fluids and the following:

Common IV Placement

Diet

Eat foods high in iron and/or take supplements to increase the amount of iron in your blood. Iron is an important component of blood.
Eat foods high in vitamin C, since this vitamin helps your blood absorb iron.
Take folic acid.

Medicine

Your doctor may give you medicine to help your body make more blood. You may also asked to stop taking certain medicine, herbs, or supplements. Let your doctor know what you are taking.

Oxygen

Extra oxygen will be given before surgery. This will make sure your body keeps high levels of oxygen even if you lose some blood.

You may be placed in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This chamber helps to pump extra oxygen into your body.

Anesthesia

The type of anesthesia will depend on your surgery.

Description of the Procedure

What will happen will depend on the type of surgery you will be having.

To further minimize blood loss, the doctor will:

Use special surgery tools or techniques to control bleeding.
A cell saver machine may be used. This machine will suction, wash, and filter your blood during surgery. This will let the blood be reused if needed.

Immediately After Procedure

The blood that was collected from you may be reinfused. You may also be given special fluids. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber may be needed if oxygen levels are low.

How Long Will It Take?

Depends on the type of surgery you have.

How Much Will It Hurt?

Bloodless process does not cause pain.

Average Hospital Stay

How long you will stay in the hospital depends on the type of surgery.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

You will be taken to your recovery room where the care team will monitor you. They will watch your oxygen levels.

Call Your Doctor

It is important for you to monitor your recovery after you leave the hospital. Alert your doctor to any problems right away. If any of the following occur, call your doctor:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
Lightheadedness or weakness
New or unexpected symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

Bloodless Surgery
http://bloodless-surgery.net

No Blood
http://noblood.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Blood Services
https://blood.ca

Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

References:

Allen J, Berrios L, Solimine M, Knott-Craig C. Bloodless Surgery in a Pediatric Jehovah’s Witness. J Extra Corpor Technol. 2013 Dec; 45(4): 251-253.

Bloodless Surgery Center. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed December 28, 2019.

Center for Bloodless Medicine & Surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital. Penn Medicine website. Available at: https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/bloodless-medicine. Accessed December 28, 2019.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy process and applications. Englewood Hospital Medical Center website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed December 28, 2019.

Mizuno J, Ozawa Y, Arita H, Hanaoka K. Anesthetic management of a Jehovah's Witness for pancreaticoduodenectomy. Masui. 2011;60(3):383-386.

Shander A, Javidroozi M, Perelman S, Puzio T, Lobel G. From bloodless surgery to patient blood management. Mt Sinai J Med. 2012;79(1):56.

Last reviewed June 2019 by Donald Buck, MD
Last Updated: 9/16/2020

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