Jehovah's Witnesses requiring complex urgent cardiothoracic surgery

Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Aug;78(2):695-7. doi: 10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01494-2.

Abstract

Blood-sparing surgical technique and perioperative medical management allows complex surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses. The authors review four cases of urgent cardiothoracic surgery performed on Jehovah's Witnesses. No lasting sequelae associated with either bleeding or end-organ ischemia were noted. Cardiopulmonary bypass management, meticulous hemostatic operative technique, and pharmacologic support of hemostasis and erythropoiesis permit this complex surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aortic Aneurysm / surgery
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery
  • Aprotinin / therapeutic use
  • Blood Transfusion, Autologous* / instrumentation
  • Blood Transfusion, Autologous* / methods
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / etiology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / surgery
  • Erythropoietin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Diseases / surgery
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
  • Hematocrit
  • Hemodilution*
  • Humans
  • Iron / therapeutic use
  • Jehovah's Witnesses*
  • Male
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Preoperative Care
  • Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Streptococcal Infections / surgery
  • Treatment Refusal
  • Viridans Streptococci

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Erythropoietin
  • Aprotinin
  • Iron