[Cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses. Experience in Santander, Spain]

Rev Esp Cardiol. 2006 May;59(5):507-9.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

As patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses are against blood transfusion, they are difficult to manage when a cardiac intervention is required. Between 1998 and 2004, all Jehovah's Witness patients with an indication for cardiac surgery (n=10) were operated on by the same multidisciplinary team. The mean fall in hematocrit was 30% during cardiopulmonary bypass, 35% during the postoperative period, and 22% at discharge. One patient required cardiac re-exploration because of sternal bleeding. All patients survived operation and were discharged. At follow-up, 1 patient died due to respiratory failure. Technological developments that reduce bleeding and enable lost blood to be recovered have made it possible to perform operations involving a risk of hemorrhage in Jehovah's Witnesses.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Blood Loss, Surgical
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Jehovah's Witnesses*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged