title: Short term outcomes after cardiac surgery in a Jehovah's Witness population: an institutional experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimising blood transfusion has a number of medical and logistical benefits, and is of particular importance for followers of the Jehovah's Witness faith. We examined the short term outcomes in this group of patients based on our institutional practice over the past decade.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on 59 patients (73% male, mean age 66 years [range 40-83]) who identified as Jehovah's Witness was prospectively collected and retrospectively analysed from a systematised database over the period from January 1999 to June 2010. Mean logistic Euroscore was 4.5, with coronary artery bypass procedures most common (44/59, 75%) followed by aortic valve replacement (6/59, 10%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average haemoglobin (Hb) fell from 142 g/L preoperatively to 109 g/L at discharge. Output from cardiac drains was reduced in patients who received aprotinin (34/59, 58%, p=0.05) compared to tranexaemic acid (11/59, 18%) or no antifibrinolytic (15/59, 25%). Operative mortality was 1/59 (1.7%) with an average length of postoperative stay of 6.2 days. Morbidity rates for neurologic deficit 2/59 (3.4%), deep sternal infection 1/59 (1.7%) and postoperative myocardial infarction 1/59 (1.7%) were within accepted ranges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac surgery can be performed safely in Jehovah's Witness patients with acceptable outcomes.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia. Lachlan_Marshall@health.qld.gov.au
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Marshall
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Krampl
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vrtik
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Haluska
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Griffin
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mundy
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000523:psychology; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D033221:Jehovah's Witnesses; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome