Blood Conservation versus Bloodless Medicine and Surgery: Understanding the Differences
Fall 2006
In the United States, more hospitals are now offering bloodless medicine and surgery programs as more
physicians and patients become aware of its many benefits. By definition, bloodless medicine and surgery
programs offer patients an option to completely avoid transfusing blood or blood products before, during or
after surgery through a variety of medical and surgical techniques.
Patients and families purposely choose
this innovative form of medical treatment for religious, ethical or personal reasons. The Center for
Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital is recognized as one of the leading programs in the
Philadelphia region and throughout the country.
Blood conservation is another growing trend in hospitals and health care institutions. Blood
conservation, also called blood management, promotes optimal, safe and efficient use of blood, blood
products and blood therapies in hospitals and health care institutions. Blood management programs have
evolved largely from the success of effective bloodless medicine and surgery strategies in hospitals across
the United States.
As blood use and costs increase significantly nationwide, effective blood conservation programs have
grown in importance. For example, according to the American Red Cross, approximately four million Americans
need blood transfusions each year. In order to maintain safe blood supplies, 40,000 blood donors are needed
each day yet donations are only received from five percent of the eligible population.
Locally, 1,100 donors
are needed daily to serve nearly 100 hospitals in the Philadelphia region, but approximately one-third of
the blood supply is received from other areas of the country because supplies are consistently low in the
Philadelphia area.
At Pennsylvania Hospital, we are committed to an effective blood management program that promotes a
multidisciplinary approach to the safe and efficient use of all resources for blood use, therapies and blood
management strategies.
|
