Coordinating with ProMedica’s Blood Management Program
Our bloodless care program works with ProMedica’s blood management team to optimize the patient’s own blood before, during and after admission if needed. Learn more about the Blood Management Program.
Available Bloodless Care Options
In the 20 years we’ve been providing bloodless care, we’ve had more than 400 open heart surgeries performed without blood transfusions. There are many other procedures regularly performed without blood transfusions, including joint replacements, spine surgeries and gynecological procedures. We provide bloodless care options for patients of every age at every ProMedica hospital. However, services do vary by location. Please talk with your care team to better understand your options.
Pre-Operative Blood Donation
A patient may choose to pre-donate their own blood before surgery. This is a discussion that will take place with your surgeon to ensure this is possible with your upcoming surgery. You would then have to be screened with the American Red Cross to ensure you qualify for pre-donation.
Medications and Minor Blood Fractions
Various medications can be used to manage a person’s blood before, during and after your hospital stay.
Blood has four main parts: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. These can be separated into smaller pieces called minor blood fractions. These include proteins, enzymes and clotting factors.
- Albumin is a protein your liver makes naturally. It is part of plasma. Some medications with albumin help keep your blood pressure normal if you are bleeding. It can be given during surgery or when you are actively bleeding.
- Erythropoietin is a hormone your kidneys make. It helps your body produce red blood cells. The form used today is man-made and does not contain any blood fractions.
- Clotting factors are proteins found in plasma. They help control or stop bleeding. Some are man-made.
- Topical agents are medications that contain small blood fractions, such as clotting factors. They are applied directly to the skin or inside the body to control bleeding.
- Immunoglobulins (antibodies) are proteins found in plasma. They are used in medications to fight viruses and bacteria. They may also be used in anti-venom treatments.
Procedures and Equipment
The following procedures and equipment use your own blood to provide bloodless care:
- Platelet gel is used during surgery to reduce bleeding and improve wound healing. A small amount of your blood is removed using a Cell Saver machine. It is spun right away to separate platelets. The platelets are mixed with a clotting factor to form a gel, which is applied to your incision.
- Labeling (tagging) is when a small amount of your blood is removed and mixed with a safe nuclear material. It is then re-infused back into your body. This test helps doctors find a bleeding source or cancer.
- An epidural blood patch is performed by an anesthesiologist. About one to two teaspoons of your blood are removed and injected into your spine. This helps treat a headache that can happen after a spinal tap.
- A Cell Saver is a machine used during surgery to collect blood from the surgical site. The blood is cleaned and returned to you through a continuous loop. The loop can be stopped if needed.
- Hemodilution is used in some surgeries. Blood is removed from your body before surgery starts and replaced with IV fluid. The blood is then returned to you during or after surgery through a continuous loop.
- A heart and lung bypass machine is used during open heart surgery to keep blood flowing through your body. Your blood moves through the machine and returns to your body in a closed, continuous loop.
- Hemodialysis removes waste from your blood. Your blood flows through a machine and then returns to your body in a closed loop.
- Apheresis removes certain cells from your blood. The rest of your blood is returned to you through a continuous loop.
What To Expect at Our Hospital
When you are admitted to the hospital, you will be asked a series of questions. If you decline blood transfusions, even in a life-threatening situation, you or someone close to you will:
- Sign a Blood Products Refusal form
- Wear a No Blood wristband during your hospital stay
- Talk with a bloodless care nurse about your options and care plan