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A multistage approach to blood conservation in a Jehovah's Witness patient undergoing redo aortic arch surgery
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery volume 10, Article number: A99 (2015)
Background/Introduction
49 year old woman with Marfan's syndrome previously treated with aortic root replacement and resuspension of aortic valve for type A dissection. Now presented with progressive dilating 6.3 cm arch aneurysm requiring redo surgery.
Aims/Objectives
To describe a multi-stage approach of patient blood management in a Jehovah's Witness undergoing redo aortic arch surgery.
Method
Preoperative phase
Baseline ferritin, transferrin, B12, folate and TFT levels.
Intravenous iron 1000 mg as single dose 3-5 weeks before planned surgery.
Epoetin alfa (600 units per kg) at weekly intervals starting 3 weeks before surgery and the 4th dose given day before surgery.
Hb improved from 119 to 152g/l.
Perioperative phase
Predonation of 2 units blood at induction.
Usage of aprotinin.
Near normothermic CPB at 30°C.
Usage of Hemosep® device to recover blood spilled during surgery. This preserved platelets, white and red cells for subsequent transfusion.
Postoperative phase
Hb 103g/l immediately post-op but fell to 64g/l over 24h. Therefore ventilated electively for 2 days giving IV iron and erthropoietin at day 1 and 4 to enhance erythropoiesis.
Patient extubated when Hb 79 g/l.
Results
Patient had no re-exploration for bleeding or tamponade. She had a period of CVVH for renal failure and IV antibiotic for chest infection.
She was transferred to the ward on day 9 and discharged home on day 13. Subsequent follow up at week 1 and 6 post discharge showed the patient doing well.
Discussion/Conclusion
Meticulous multidisciplinary individualised patient blood management can result in safe and excellent outcome in a Jehovah's Witness patient undergoing major redo aortic surgery.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this abstract and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.
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Cite this article
Basu, R., Naik, S., Shafaat, M. et al. A multistage approach to blood conservation in a Jehovah's Witness patient undergoing redo aortic arch surgery. J Cardiothorac Surg 10 (Suppl 1), A99 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8090-10-S1-A99
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8090-10-S1-A99