Avoiding blood products during liver transplantation.
Liver transplantation is a major surgical procedure usually requiring large amount of blood products (red cells, platelets, fresh-frozen plasma). We developed a multidisciplinary transfusion-free protocol for liver transplantation in Jehovah's witnesses who refuse the use of blood products but accept organ transplantation. Between September 1998 and November 2004, 9 of 29 Jehovah's witnesses evaluated for liver transplantation were transplanted after medical preparation. None of these patients received any blood product during the surgical procedure. This experience may be beneficial for the entire liver transplantation population, as excessive transfusion has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality in liver transplantation.
Detry
O
O
Department of Abdominal Surgery and Transplantation, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. Oli.Detry@chu.ulg.ac.be
Deroover
A
A
Delwaide
J
J
Delbouille
M H
MH
Kaba
A
A
Joris
J
J
Damas
P
P
Lamy
M
M
Honoré
P
P
Meurisse
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006400:Hematocrit; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D033221:Jehovah's Witnesses; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005492:Folic Acid