Transfusion-Free Medicine & Surgery Program

Hotlinks:
How Transfusion-Free Medicine Works
Pre-Admission
During Surgery
After Surgery
Our Experience
Participating Medical & Surgical Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions About Transfusion-Free Medicine
Take the Next Step

By choosing the transfusion-free approach, you avoid the risk of infection with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other diseases associated with donated blood.  You also reduce the risk of negative side effects that come with transfusions (however today’s blood supply is fairly safe).  This can enhance your body’s natural ability to fight infection and disease, which in turn, can shorten recovery time and speed healing.

The decision to undergo any medical or surgical procedure requires that you carefully weigh the risks and benefits involved.  The option to have a transfusion-free procedure is no exception.  Our standard of care during surgery is to always minimized blood loss – and we are committed to reach that goal with all of our patients.  Additionally, patients need to understand:

• Transfusion-free medicine is practiced within our normal standard of care
• Transfusion-free medicine may not be appropriate for all patients

If transfusion-free medicine is something you are seriously considering, then we encourage you to discuss it with your personal physician to determine if it is right for you.

Our program manager is available to answer any and all of your questions.  We are committed to helping you understand each and every nuance of your decision along the way and making sure you understand any and all alternatives.  We can also assist you with documenting your wishes so there is no question about your preferences.

Back to top

Another Way
Patients choose transfusion-free care for a variety of reasons.  Some wish to avoid transfusions based on religious convictions.  Others want to reduce the possibility of transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.  Still others appreciate the mounting clinical evidence that transfusion-free technology may have a positive impact on healing and enhance the recovery process.

Whatever your reason for choosing transfusion-free medicine and surgery, consider our experience when you make that choice.

If you are considering Transfusion-Free Medicine, Consider Our Experience.
If you’re facing a medical or surgical procedure, you probably know that many procedures today can be performed without using donated blood products.  This approach -  called transfusion-free medicine or “bloodless” surgery – uses advanced techniques to minimize blood loss before, during and after treatment, and it confers some significant health benefits. "Bloodless" means medical or surgical treatment without the use of hypoallergenic blood or primary blood components. Blood loss often occurs during surgery. A bloodless program endeavors to mininize blood loss by utilizing special blood conservation methods.

But not all transfusion-free medicine and surgery programs are created equal.  At USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, we have one of the most comprehensive, leading-edge transfusion-free programs in the nation.  Our team has successfully performed a wide range of transfusion-free procedures, from routine tonsillectomies to complex organ transplants – giving you access to a depth and breadth of experience that is unique and extensive.

Back to top

How Transfusion-Free Medicine Works
The overall goals in performing a transfusion-free procedure are to optimize your reserve, minimize blood loss, and maximize blood conservation, so that you retain as much of you own blood as possible – like being your very own blood bank. This requires comprehensive, intergraded care during all phases of your treatment.

Back to top

Pre-Admission
• Medications may be given for several weeks before surgery to boost production of red blood cells and prevent anemia.
• Microsampling uses fewer and smaller blood samples for lab tests to help keep your blood supply intact.

Back to top

During Surgery
Hemodilution – blood circulating through your body is diluted to minimize blood loss and preserve clotting factors.

Cell Saver – this machine collects, cleans and recirculates blood that spills in to the body during surgery.

Special instruments – surgical lasers, The Harmonic Scalpel, argon beam coagulators, and electrocautery help stop bleeding causing less blood loss than traditional scalpels.

Minimally invasive, laproscopic surgery – whenever appropriate, we operate using the smallest possible incisions and scopes for visualization.

Anesthesia and synthetic clotting agents – used to control hypertension and minimize bleeding.
Back to top

After Surgery