Craniomaxillofacial surgery in the Jehovah's Witness patient

Plast Reconstr Surg. 1994 May;93(6):1258-63. doi: 10.1097/00006534-199405000-00024.

Abstract

The reconstruction of severe craniofacial anomalies in patients who will not accept blood transfusions presents a considerable challenge to the craniofacial team. Traditionally, these patients have been refused major reconstructions, receiving no treatment or a highly compromised substitute. A management protocol was developed utilizing preoperative erythropoietin and ferrous sulfate therapy, intraoperative in-line normovolemic hemodilution, and meticulous intraoperative hemostasis which allows us to perform major craniomaxillofacial reconstructions in Jehovah's Witness patients without the use of homologous or predonated autologous blood transfusions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Blood Transfusion*
  • Child
  • Christianity*
  • Craniofacial Dysostosis / surgery*
  • Erythropoietin / therapeutic use
  • Facial Bones / abnormalities*
  • Facial Bones / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mandible / abnormalities
  • Mandible / surgery
  • Maxilla / abnormalities
  • Maxilla / surgery
  • Religion and Medicine*
  • Skull / abnormalities*

Substances

  • Erythropoietin