title: Transfusion-free surgery is a treatment plan for all patients.
abstract: Due to the increased risks associated with allogenic blood transfusion, blood management in surgical procedures, especially in orthopedic settings, should include reduction of perioperative blood loss. Preoperative nursing assessment will help define patients at increased risk for transfusion. Both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic techniques can help minimize allogenic transfusion by reducing blood loss. One such method of managing anemia and reducing patient exposure to allogenic transfusion is the perioperative use of recombinant human erythropoietin--erythropoietin alfa--an innovative surgical blood management tool. Increased awareness by perioperative nurses of the use of erythropoietin alfa and patient implications can contribute to the overall blood conservation goal.
authors.affiliation: Ortho Biotech, Cliffside Park, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trovarelli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vernon
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002835:Christianity; D000075202:Contraindications; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa