title: Case report: The management of advanced oral cancer in a Jehovah's Witness using the Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel.
abstract: We present the first case of a head and neck oncological procedure accomplished in a Jehovah's Witness using the Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon, Cincinnati, OH). Jehovah's Witnesses present a serious challenge to the head and neck cancer surgeon due to their refusal to accept transfusion of any blood products. However, our experience reinforces the view that surgical management of head and neck cancer is possible in these patients. We show the Harmonic Scalpel, an ultrasonic tissue dissector, to be a useful surgical tool in obviating the need for blood transfusion. Preoperative optimisation, intra-operative surgical and anaesthetic techniques are also fully discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery Royal Victoria Hospital Newcastle-Upon-Tyne UK. peterkullar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kullar
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sorenson
authors.forename: Ruwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weerakkody
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033221:Jehovah's Witnesses; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D016896:Treatment Outcome