Lynda Guydon Taylor,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Blood transfusion can be an issue for some patients facing surgery either on religious grounds or because of safety concerns.
For anyone considering it, Canonsburg General Hospital will host a two-hour program at 1:30 p.m. April 14 on alteratives to transfusion.
The Allegheny General Hospital Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery will sponsor the free program. Normally, such programs are well attended, drawing as many as 100 people, said Deborah Tatro, a center coordinator.
Last year, more than 200 patients, a majority of whom were Jehovah's Witnesses, requested bloodless surgery, Ms. Tatro said. Although Canonsburg as part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System is hosting the program, it does not offer the procedures involving alternatives.
If someone has concerns about transfusion, Ms. Tatro said, he or she is encouraged to choose a hospital with available equipment and which does the procedure all the time.
Procedures involving bloodless surgery and medicine have been evolving since the 1950s, she said. The term bloodless medicine was coined by Dr. Denton Cooley, who did open heart surgery in the 1950s. There are a number of techniques used in bloodless surgery and medicine. A few of the methods follow:
The cell saver system, also known as intraoperative blood salvage, captures blood lost during an operation and returns it to the patient during surgery.
To reduce blood loss during surgery, certain devices are used to clot blood vessels.
Hemodilution temporarily replaces blood with intravenous fluids to limit blood loss during surgery.
There are several benefits to bloodless surgery. When it comes to cost, Ms. Tatro said, bloodless surgery is no more costly than transfusion and in many ways can be less expensive. Furthermore, those who do not receive transfusions tend to recover faster and experience a shorter hospital stay. Bloodless surgery also can reduce infections and complications.
One group of patients with historic concerns about blood transfusion are Jehovah's Witnesses. The church has established hospital liaison committees in 125 cities worldwide to advise patients about biblical law on which Jehovah's Witnesses oppose transfusion.
The committee's role is to act as liaison between a follower and the patient's hospital.
As chairman of Pittsburgh's Hospital Liaison Committee, Paul Jones advises Jehovah's Witnesses in the city and surrounding area. Opposition is based on passages in Genesis, Leviticus and Acts referring to not consuming or partaking of blood. For example, blood must be drained from animal meat before consumption.
"We believe when blood is spilled, it needs to be poured out and not used," said Mr. Jones, Pittsburgh Jehovah's Witness overseer.
Some procedures involve using fractions of blood in which white and red blood cells and platelets are removed, leaving plasma, a yellowish liquid. Each person has to decide whether he or she will accept those minor fractions, he said.
"Once you get beyond blood transfusion, we leave it up to one's conscience," Mr. Jones said, stressing Jehovah's Witnesses are not opposed to medical treatment, just to transfusion and abortion.
The religion does, however, allow for the cell-saver system.
Coincidentally, Charles Taze Russell established the modern day religion in the 1870s on Pittsburgh's North Side.
"Pittsburgh has always been on the leading edge [regarding transfusion]. The philosophy in Western Pennsylvania is treating the whole person and honoring their request," Mr. Jones said.
The first hour of the Canonsburg presentation by Dr. Lance Weaver, a general surgeon, will be devoted to alternatives to transfusion while the second hour will focus on helping Jehovah's Witnesses make a decision, Ms. Tatro said.
Anyone interested in attending the program should register by calling 1-877-284-2100.
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Blood transfusion can be an issue for some patients facing surgery either on religious grounds or because of safety concerns.
For anyone considering it, Canonsburg General Hospital will host a two-hour program at 1:30 p.m. April 14 on alteratives to transfusion.
The Allegheny General Hospital Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery will sponsor the free program. Normally, such programs are well attended, drawing as many as 100 people, said Deborah Tatro, a center coordinator.
Last year, more than 200 patients, a majority of whom were Jehovah's Witnesses, requested bloodless surgery, Ms. Tatro said. Although Canonsburg as part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System is hosting the program, it does not offer the procedures involving alternatives.
If someone has concerns about transfusion, Ms. Tatro said, he or she is encouraged to choose a hospital with available equipment and which does the procedure all the time.
Procedures involving bloodless surgery and medicine have been evolving since the 1950s, she said. The term bloodless medicine was coined by Dr. Denton Cooley, who did open heart surgery in the 1950s. There are a number of techniques used in bloodless surgery and medicine. A few of the methods follow:
The cell saver system, also known as intraoperative blood salvage, captures blood lost during an operation and returns it to the patient during surgery.
To reduce blood loss during surgery, certain devices are used to clot blood vessels.
Hemodilution temporarily replaces blood with intravenous fluids to limit blood loss during surgery.
There are several benefits to bloodless surgery. When it comes to cost, Ms. Tatro said, bloodless surgery is no more costly than transfusion and in many ways can be less expensive. Furthermore, those who do not receive transfusions tend to recover faster and experience a shorter hospital stay. Bloodless surgery also can reduce infections and complications.
One group of patients with historic concerns about blood transfusion are Jehovah's Witnesses. The church has established hospital liaison committees in 125 cities worldwide to advise patients about biblical law on which Jehovah's Witnesses oppose transfusion.
The committee's role is to act as liaison between a follower and the patient's hospital.
As chairman of Pittsburgh's Hospital Liaison Committee, Paul Jones advises Jehovah's Witnesses in the city and surrounding area. Opposition is based on passages in Genesis, Leviticus and Acts referring to not consuming or partaking of blood. For example, blood must be drained from animal meat before consumption.
"We believe when blood is spilled, it needs to be poured out and not used," said Mr. Jones, Pittsburgh Jehovah's Witness overseer.
Some procedures involve using fractions of blood in which white and red blood cells and platelets are removed, leaving plasma, a yellowish liquid. Each person has to decide whether he or she will accept those minor fractions, he said.
"Once you get beyond blood transfusion, we leave it up to one's conscience," Mr. Jones said, stressing Jehovah's Witnesses are not opposed to medical treatment, just to transfusion and abortion.
The religion does, however, allow for the cell-saver system.
Coincidentally, Charles Taze Russell established the modern day religion in the 1870s on Pittsburgh's North Side.
"Pittsburgh has always been on the leading edge [regarding transfusion]. The philosophy in Western Pennsylvania is treating the whole person and honoring their request," Mr. Jones said.
The first hour of the Canonsburg presentation by Dr. Lance Weaver, a general surgeon, will be devoted to alternatives to transfusion while the second hour will focus on helping Jehovah's Witnesses make a decision, Ms. Tatro said.
Anyone interested in attending the program should register by calling 1-877-284-2100.
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