Hello,
I am so thankful to have a resource like this available and hope my questions will make sense.
My grandmother is an active 73 Jehovah's Witness. She has an anuerism on her heart aorta (6.5-7 Diameter) and will be having surgery to have this and heart valve replaced in the next month.
I am researching her fraction options. The Doctor has suggested the use of Albumin and Cryoprecipitate during the surgery, all of which are conscientious choices by JW's. However, after researching Cryoprecipitate, I'm sure will be hesitant to accept this - since it has the same or greater risk of disease as a regular blood transfusion. Also, based on how it's administered it could violate her religious obligations all together. Is there a viable synthetic (or non blood origin) option/s in it's place considering the scope of surgery?
Also, is there any synthetic (or non blood origin products) for albumin? I'm thinking it will be used during this surgery for it's blood expanding properties (not sure).
We will be discussing our options with the Doctor, but I welcome any and all feedback to become more informed prior to our meeting.
Thanks again for having such a wonderful reference like this-I only wish I knew about it sooner!
Joyce