What is blood management and conservation?
Why is blood conservation so important today?
How many hospitals offer blood conservation programs?
Do I need an Advance Directive if I want to avoid blood transfusions? And if so, who do I need to give this directive to? What is blood management and conservation?
Blood conservation is the process of conserving enough of your own blood during medical or surgical procedures to reduce or eliminate the need for a blood transfusion. There are many patients who require blood transfusions due to anemia, cancer treatments and surgery.
During blood conservation, various techniques are used to conserve blood, control bleeding or promote new blood cell growth, such as vitamins, medications, and micro-sampling (minimum amount of blood taken for testing).
Why is blood conservation so important today?
Today there is a worldwide shortage of blood for transfusions. The general public is becoming more and more concerned about the safety of receiving blood from a donor.
While the threat of HIV has reduced drastically, there is still the threat of suffering a delayed hemolytic reaction, infections, and diseases as a possible result of the transfusion that may not be a problem for the patient until 10-20 years later. The benefits of blood conservation include healthier outcomes, fewer risks, and cost savings to both the patient and the hospital.
How many hospitals offer blood conservation programs?
Approximately 200 hospitals nationwide and 400 internationally have comprehensive blood conservation programs. More hospitals are adding or establishing blood conservation programs every day, and some believe it will become the standard of care in the future due to continuing concerns about the nation's blood supply and continuous blood shortages worldwide.
Do I need an Advance Directive if I want to avoid blood transfusions? And if so, who do I need to give this directive too?
It's important to explain your specific wishes regarding blood transfusions and receiving blood products in your advance directive document. This document speaks for you when you cannot speak for yourself. Learn more about Advance Directives.
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