noblood

noblood http://www.noblood.org A community of medical professionals and members of the public who are responding to the worldwide concern about the efficacy, cost and availability of donor blood. en Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:42:15 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.noblood.org/images/misc/rss.jpg noblood http://www.noblood.org research lung transplant http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6698-research-lung-transplant.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:48:26 GMT I just about cried when I received your message. Any idea of the name of the Hospital or Dr. there in Lexington. Thank you so much I just about cried when I received your message. Any idea of the name of the Hospital or Dr. there in Lexington. Thank you so much ]]> Ask a Professional hcmanning http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6698-research-lung-transplant.html Need some assistance, please. http://www.noblood.org/general-discussions/6677-need-some-assistance-please.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:56:47 GMT Mike, by the way, as a Jehovah's Witness, it would not be appropriate for him to have had a "drop too much" :) ]]> General Discussions CuriousLu http://www.noblood.org/general-discussions/6677-need-some-assistance-please.html <![CDATA[Pregnant Jehovah's Witnesses wanting a vbac]]> http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/5034-pregnant-jehovahs-witnesses-wanting-vbac.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:27:51 GMT Hello there, Wow! I cannot believe that there are so many others out there going through the same thing! The exact same thing just happen to me, my OB told... Hello there,

Wow! I cannot believe that there are so many others out there going through the same thing! The exact same thing just happen to me, my OB told me she is not doing my C-section because I do not accept blood; the subject just came up and I am only two weeks away from my scheduled surgery. We had not talked about the subject because she has been away on and off during the last three months, and the other two OB that were covering for her didn't want to discuss the matter with me and told me to see her when she got back! So finally she did and after pressuring her for so long to schedule my surgery and give me the details the no blood issue came up! I explained to her that I am a JW, and she completely refused to deal with me if a did not sign the forms agreeing to a blood transfusion in case of an emergency.

I was given an ultimatum, she gave me a week to get back to her with an answer, so I told her it did not matter because a week from now my answer would still be NO Blood!!!!!

She left me stranded, and I am now looking all over the city for a doctor who can take over and perform my surgery on the 17th; I live in Toronto, and there are basically no doctors willing to take me in from what I can see so far!

Does anybody know any doctors or hospitals in my area that can help me??? The HLC have not gotten back to me yet, but apparently they do not keep a list of physicians where we can go when this happens.

Thanks, any info would help!
and Nikki I hope you find a doctor soon, and wish you all the best.

P.S. This is my third C-section, and two years ago I had a major back surgery with pins, I've been told I need to consult an anesthesiologist because there might be complications because of where the pins are located.
]]> Ask a Professional Rachel Soza http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/5034-pregnant-jehovahs-witnesses-wanting-vbac.html UK Hospitals specialising in bloodless surgery http://www.noblood.org/general-discussions/6443-uk-hospitals-specialising-bloodless-surgery.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:09:30 GMT Thanks for your information, I am sending it to the patient concerned to contact you directly as he maybe interested in your personal experience Thanks for your information, I am sending it to the patient concerned to contact you directly as he maybe interested in your personal experience ]]> General Discussions carees http://www.noblood.org/general-discussions/6443-uk-hospitals-specialising-bloodless-surgery.html Postop Reinfusion Drains and Consents? http://www.noblood.org/general-discussions/6386-postop-reinfusion-drains-consents.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:28:19 GMT

Quote:

Originally Posted by E. Crum, RN (Post 14861)

You're right that AABB does not require specific consent for drain reinfusion under their PABCA accreditation standards. When the New Jersey State Dept. of Health inspected our Perioperative Autologous program last fall, they did not require specific consent either when we discussed it, because our procedure consent mentions acceptance of blood products. You may be interested to know that the State did require that we have a very concise drain I&O record - more specific than the general I&Os that are usually kept - that includes vitals, times up, down, and amounts infused and discarded. You may want to check with your own DOH to see if they have any requirements you need to meet. Up until now AABB has not required this specific documentation, but I know AABB planned to discuss the NJ perioperative autologous requirements with our DOH, so I don't know if that will impact the AABB requirements in the future.

Thanks you for the post.

__________________
watch free movies online ]]> General Discussions amandak695 http://www.noblood.org/general-discussions/6386-postop-reinfusion-drains-consents.html Well Hi to all. http://www.noblood.org/new-members/3996-well-hi-all.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:24:58 GMT

Quote:

Originally Posted by butch s (Post 15081)

Hello to all and to all hello! My name is Butch and I'm new here. Thank you for having me. I am a user of noblood myself. In 2007 I had a liver transplant and it took some searching to find a hospital that wold do it. I eventually found one in Memphis and glad to say as a JW I am still alive and was able to uphold my integrity and bring honor and glory to Jehovah.

Hello !
I am also a new member. Would a newcomer be warmly welcome here? Good day you guy ! ]]> New Members amandak695 http://www.noblood.org/new-members/3996-well-hi-all.html 36 weeks pregnant http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6695-36-weeks-pregnant.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:12:47 GMT Hello again, and thankyou for all the time and consideration that you have given me. I am one of JW, have been since birth! and I had already contacted someone... Hello again, and thankyou for all the time and consideration that you have given me. I am one of JW, have been since birth! and I had already contacted someone in charge of this type of matter within my church. The only difference with me is that I am not babtised yet and so they've told me my situation is a bit tricky because they have to be careful with what advice they give me. I am still waiting for them to get back to me, but so far what I've been told is to go to one of the hospitals downtown like st. Michael's where they deal with this sort of situations. Apparently the society doesn't really keep a list of the physicians that treat JW. I am starting to get desperate! I feel like am losing hope and I am physically and emotionally drained! I shall wait for my doctor to get back to me tomorrow and we'll take it from there I suppose... the only thing am sure of at this point is that I need to get on some medication right away to build up my blood count prior to delivery as you have advised. Thanks again! ]]> Ask a Professional Rachel Soza http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6695-36-weeks-pregnant.html <![CDATA[IRISH Blood service 'challenged' to maintain standards, report says]]> http://www.noblood.org/news-hot-topics-such-hepatitis-c-sars-aids/6696-irish-blood-service-challenged-maintain-standards-report-says.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:38:17 GMT Blood service 'challenged' to maintain standards, report says

The Irish Times - Tuesday, August 31, 2010
EITHNE DONNELLAN, Health Correspondent

THE IRISH Blood Transfusion Service will be “seriously challenged” to maintain international standards in the current economic climate, the organisation’s chief executive has said.

Andrew Kelly said the service, like many other organisations, had to embark on a series of cost-cutting measures in the past year to reduce its cost base.

“The economic environment in Ireland will continue to be difficult for the next two to three years and in that context, the service will be required to make further cost savings and reduce its prices,” Mr Kelly said in the organisation’s latest annual report published yesterday.

In 2009, it cut costs by getting reductions on all supplier contracts of between 8 and 10 per cent, the elimination of overtime in the laboratories of the national blood centre, and the introduction of an extended 7am-7pm working day. There were also reductions in non-pay costs including travel and subsistence and an initiative to tender with the UK Blood Service for blood bags generated significant savings through economies of scale.

While any new initiative must be implemented in a cost-neutral manner at the blood bank, Mr Kelly said the primary function of the blood transfusion service to provide a consistent and safe supply of blood to patients “must not be overlooked or compromised in the quest for cost reductions and price savings”.

Meanwhile, the report reveals the service’s pension fund was declared insolvent in March 2009. It is obliged to put forward a funding proposal to the Pensions Board by November. There are 610 active members, 339 deferred members and 81 pensioners in the scheme.

The annual report also says much energy and resources were expended by the service during the last year on preparing for the global swine flu pandemic. It added that while flu probably could be spread by blood transfusion, there was no evidence to show the H1N1 virus was transmitted by blood transfusion in Ireland or anywhere else.

The report notes the service began selling plasma collected as part of whole blood donations to a commercial company earlier this year. The blood product has not been used by the service since 2001 due to the risks of vCJD and was discarded.

The service said it was costing it about €140,000 a year to incinerate the unused plasma. It expects to get €800,000 a year from the commercial company for the product, which it is using to test diagnostic equipment.
Donors were surveyed on the their attitude to such a commercial arrangement in advance and “had no major issues with this proposal”, the report says.

Dr William Murphy, IBTS medical and scientific director, said that while a test for vCJD seemed imminent in 2009, the new technology did not prove itself in field trials.

Blood service 'challenged' to maintain standards, report says - The Irish Times - Tue, Aug 31, 2010 ]]> News and Hot Topics such as Hepatitis C, SARS and AIDS lekozza http://www.noblood.org/news-hot-topics-such-hepatitis-c-sars-aids/6696-irish-blood-service-challenged-maintain-standards-report-says.html Dengue Hemmorhagic Fever http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/4237-dengue-hemmorhagic-fever.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:15:59 GMT Al, thanks for posting dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF). Yes, the Philippine Department of Health website has listed around 41,000 cases of DHF/dengue shock... Al, thanks for posting dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF). Yes, the Philippine Department of Health website has listed around 41,000 cases of DHF/dengue shock syndrome in the past 6 months with more than 400 deaths. The most number of cases are in fact, found in our region, Eastern Visayas (Central Philippines).

The best way to avoid the worst scenario of DHF, that is, shock, is to seek medical advice as soon as the signs and symptoms of dengue fever are seen. Fever, headache, malaise, presence of rashes, and most important, signs of dehydration. The critical period is when fever subsides. A low white blood cell count is usually present. A decreasing platelet count is due to destruction of the platelets plus leakage outside the vascular space. A rising hematocrit is a sign of decreasing blood volume (intravascular) as a result of capillary leakage (plasma with some blood cells,etc leaks out of the blood volume space into the tissues). In fact, capillary leakage is the hallmark of DHF. Bleeding may occur sooner or later. However, as one pediatric intensivist in Manila had said, it is not the low platelet count per se which produces the bleeding but the severe dehydration/low perfusion of the tissues that results in metabolic changes and eventually bleeding. This intensivist has had one pediatric patient with DHF with a platelet count of 3,000 only, yet she did not give blood products, only IV fluids to correct tissue dehydration.

Many dengue patients in the Philippines are given non-blood solutions like crystalloids (Lactated Ringers, Acetated Ringers soln) and a colloid 6% Hydroxyethylstarch 130/0.4 (Voluven, Fresenius Kabi). The latter will provide volume expansion as it stays inside the intravascular space for longer periods of time, thus preventing shock. And some studies have shown that the starch solution reduces the inflammatory substances producing capillary leak in patients with sepsis, and in one old study in Indonesia (in the 1990s), in patients with dengue.

There are only few studies on this in the literature, some in Vietnam, Thailand and there is an ongoing study in Manila that I am aware of. I hope there will be more studies in the future but as of the moment, in our area where I practice my profession, we have quite a number of dengue patients receiving Voluven and who have successfully been discharged improved. We have to get them early in the management.

Thank you. ]]> Ask a Professional drgapay http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/4237-dengue-hemmorhagic-fever.html Study: Stopping Plavix May Be Risky http://www.noblood.org/medical-conditions-treatments/4259-study-stopping-plavix-may-risky.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:21:32 GMT Thanks you for the post. Thanks you for the post. ]]> Medical Conditions and Treatments billyy2288 http://www.noblood.org/medical-conditions-treatments/4259-study-stopping-plavix-may-risky.html hello http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6673-hello.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:19:38 GMT ---Quote (Originally by Informaticus)--- Welcome Dr Akasheh, it is a pleasure to have medical professionals like yourself at NoBlood. Take a look around the...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Informaticus (Post 15405)

Welcome Dr Akasheh, it is a pleasure to have medical professionals like yourself at NoBlood. Take a look around the forums, and also our NoBlood Wiki. Feel free to post any information that you think will be helpful to members and visitors to this site, who come here looking for safe, effective alternatives to allogeneic blood transfusion.

I also think so. ]]> New Members billyy2288 http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6673-hello.html Pregnancy risks related to blood http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6688-pregnancy-risks-related-blood.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:01:28 GMT In addition to postpartum hemorrhage,you should also be aware of prepartum/intrapartum hemorrhage (occuring before or during labor) caused by placenta praevia... In addition to postpartum hemorrhage,you should also be aware of prepartum/intrapartum hemorrhage (occuring before or during labor) caused by placenta praevia or abruptio placenta. In placenta praevia, the placenta comes in the way of the baby's presenting part, that is, head or breech (feet or buttock), while in abruptio placenta, there is premature placental separation from the uterus while baby is still undelivered. Placenta praevia is painless vaginal bleeding while in abruptio, bleeding is accompanied by severe abdominal pain. With an ultrasound praevia can be diagnosed early on.

Please make sure that intake of oral iron is adequate so pre-delivery hemoglobin is enough. There is still enough time to build up hemoglobin.

Have a safe delivery!:) ]]> Ask a Professional drgapay http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6688-pregnancy-risks-related-blood.html Screening May Reduce Effects of Neonatal Thrombocytopenia: Study http://www.noblood.org/medical-articles-abstracts/6694-screening-may-reduce-effects-neonatal-thrombocytopenia-study.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:10:38 GMT Membership of Medscape is required to view the full article here

Screening May Reduce Effects of Neonatal Thrombocytopenia: Study

News Author: Frederik Joelving
CME Author: Penny Murata, MD

August 20, 2010 — Severe fetal or neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia occurs in about 4 per 10,000 pregnancies, according to Dutch researchers, who call for routine screening.

"This devastating disease is underestimated, it leads to many life-long handicaps and unlike many other congenital diseases, it is likely almost completely preventable," senior researcher Dr. Dick Oepkes of Leiden University Medical Center told Reuters Health by e-mail.

"Clinical practice should incorporate standard screening of all pregnant women for potential risk of FNAIT, and treat those at real risk, the ones that develop antibodies against fetal platelets," said Dr. Oepkes, whose findings appeared online July 8 in BJOG.

Log on to Medscape to read the full article here…
]]> Medical Articles and Abstracts Informaticus http://www.noblood.org/medical-articles-abstracts/6694-screening-may-reduce-effects-neonatal-thrombocytopenia-study.html new http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6630-new.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:09:36 GMT Welcome to this website. There are many here who can assist you if you can give a little more information. We do not have a list of doctors by specialty here... Welcome to this website. There are many here who can assist you if you can give a little more information. We do not have a list of doctors by specialty here on the website, but if you can tell us where you live, perhaps we can steer you towards a hospital that practices blood conservation to see if they have a neurosurgeon that is favorable. ]]> New Members markeldredge http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6630-new.html research on bloodless organ transplant http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6684-research-bloodless-organ-transplant.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:39:08 GMT If you go to the Jehovah's Witness website Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site and click on 'Our View of Medical Care', you will see that accepting a transplant is a personal decision. There is no bible prohibition to a transplant, or donating your organs, and any residual blood in an organ is not being used as a transfusion. Do some research, such as reviewing the 3/15/80 WT p31 Question from Readers. PBS did a nice presentation of a liver transplant done without the use of blood in their documentary last year. Again, it is a personal decision, so make it an informed one. ]]> Ask a Professional markeldredge http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6684-research-bloodless-organ-transplant.html The unconscious J.W. Patient! http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/2703-unconscious-j-w-patient.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:30:16 GMT Are you saying that you are a doctor and would not make any special attempts to see my wishes and if it was not kept then the best you can say is sorry ? Are you saying that you are a doctor and would not make any special attempts to see my wishes and if it was not kept then the best you can say is sorry ? ]]> Ask a Professional butch s http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/2703-unconscious-j-w-patient.html Knee Replacement http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6686-knee-replacement.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:20:21 GMT A good place to start is right here at NoBlood. Simply type the word "knee" into the search engine at the top of this page, hit Enter, and you will be taken to at least 10 pages of results, many of them medical articles discussing ways to reduce or eliminate the need for blood transfusion in TKJ surgery. ]]> Ask a Professional Informaticus http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6686-knee-replacement.html Processing blood fractions /cryoprecipitate http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6667-processing-blood-fractions-cryoprecipitate.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:31:52 GMT Post centrifuge plasma supernatant and precipitate can be reconstituted just as can RBCs and plasma by gentle agitation if there is no gel barrier. Post centrifuge plasma supernatant and precipitate can be reconstituted just as can RBCs and plasma by gentle agitation if there is no gel barrier. ]]> Ask a Professional John Delgado http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6667-processing-blood-fractions-cryoprecipitate.html Hi new here. http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6687-hi-new-here.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:34:40 GMT greetings to all greetings to all ]]> New Members Bro Tompson http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6687-hi-new-here.html Treatment for Dengue http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/4871-treatment-dengue.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 05:29:01 GMT The Abstracts quoted above are in the public domain, so presumably there would be no objection to forwarding them to anyone. Doctors can access the full... The Abstracts quoted above are in the public domain, so presumably there would be no objection to forwarding them to anyone. Doctors can access the full articles through their hospital library system. ]]> Ask a Professional Informaticus http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/4871-treatment-dengue.html New to the forum http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6682-new-forum.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:28:36 GMT Hello. Nickname is Trafpol. Location, London. UK Former Traffic cop. JW past 60yrs. Recently lost my wife to heart disease. Interested in all aspects... Hello.

Nickname is Trafpol. Location, London. UK Former Traffic cop. JW past 60yrs. Recently lost my wife to heart disease. Interested in all aspects of bloodless surgery and cell saver machines. Feel free to email me. ]]> New Members Trafpol http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6682-new-forum.html Any JW Nurses That Can Offer Input? http://www.noblood.org/shop-talk/2842-any-jw-nurses-can-offer-input.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:09:09 GMT Hello Sis I have only just joined this forum. Sorry for a very late reply. As with all matters that might involve the christian conscience. Might I suggest... Hello Sis
I have only just joined this forum. Sorry for a very late reply. As with all matters that might involve the christian conscience. Might I suggest to all, that it's best to identify yourself and your belief at an early stage. This saves any confrontations in the future.

Mike. ]]> Shop Talk Trafpol http://www.noblood.org/shop-talk/2842-any-jw-nurses-can-offer-input.html Hi http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6681-hi.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:27:13 GMT Need to do some research so that I can make an informed decision. Looking forward to reading all the material re non-blood alternatives. Need to do some research so that I can make an informed decision. Looking forward to reading all the material re non-blood alternatives. ]]> New Members Wendyk http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6681-hi.html Erythropoietin (EPO) http://www.noblood.org/medicines-containing-blood-fractions/5102-erythropoietin-epo.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:18:45 GMT Well Erythropoietin is not a routine test. It is ordered primarily to help differentiate between different types of anemia... Well Erythropoietin is not a routine test. It is ordered primarily to help differentiate between different types of anemia and to determine whether the amount of erythropoietin being produced is appropriate for the level of anemia present. ]]> Medicines Containing Blood Fractions kennymevrick http://www.noblood.org/medicines-containing-blood-fractions/5102-erythropoietin-epo.html Can all the blood be removed from a donor Kidney? http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6679-can-all-blood-removed-donor-kidney.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:16:23 GMT Hi My fleshly brother is in need of a Kidney transplant. My question is , Can all the blood be removed from a donor Kidney? Thanks David Hi
My fleshly brother is in need of a Kidney transplant.
My question is , Can all the blood be removed from a donor Kidney?

Thanks David ]]> Ask a Professional LoserDave http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6679-can-all-blood-removed-donor-kidney.html New Member Need Hernia Surgery New to Forum http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6671-new-member-need-hernia-surgery-new-forum.html Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:35:58 GMT At the top of the page, click on Quick Links, and one of the drop down options is 'Find a Hospital'. Click on this and you will see there are two listed in Chicago. Hope this helps. ]]> Ask a Professional markeldredge http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6671-new-member-need-hernia-surgery-new-forum.html Hello http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6674-hello.html Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:38:02 GMT Hello. I am new to the site very interesting reading. Found this site trying to find info on raising platelets naturally for a breast cancer patient. Hello. I am new to the site very interesting reading. Found this site trying to find info on raising platelets naturally for a breast cancer patient. ]]> New Members WHI950 http://www.noblood.org/new-members/6674-hello.html I am New. Help please http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6672-i-am-new-help-please.html Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:31:19 GMT Just type "Hodgkins Lymphoma" into the search engine at the top of the page. You can also vary the search term, with "Hodgkins disease." If you have a question, why not post it here on the forum. There's no guarantee that someone will be able to help you with a specific question but there are many individuals who use this site who have had lymphomas and other cancers, so it's worth a try. ]]> Ask a Professional Informaticus http://www.noblood.org/ask-professional/6672-i-am-new-help-please.html <![CDATA["Life saving blood transfusion?"]]> http://www.noblood.org/news-hot-topics-such-hepatitis-c-sars-aids/6668-life-saving-blood-transfusion.html Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:50:41 GMT Examiner.com

"Life saving blood transfusion?"

August 1st, 2010 9:18 pm MT

The Associated Press reported this week that there is growing concern about blood stored for transfusions.

When we cut our finger, we see blood as a simple red liquid. It was perhaps that view that prompted doctors centuries ago to believe that blood that leaked out of one patient could simply be replaced by blood from another patient.

Such is not the belief of doctors today. There is a growing school of thought among the best doctors today that transfusing blood is as fraught with complications as transplanting organs.

What doctors in the 1700's couldn't have known is that blood is a complex mix of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, plasma, and a myriad other small constituents. Likely you've heard blood being referred to as "type A," "type B, or "type O." These distinctions refer to antigens in the blood, and so far researchers have discovered 29 different "types." The antigens essentially make each person's blood unique; they do not play well with others. Mismatched blood was the reason for the death of nearly all early tranfusion patients. Even with all the technology available today, it is estimated that about one in 12,000 units of blood transfused in the United States is given to the wrong person.

Your body creates red blood cells at the astonishing rate of 2 million to 3 million per second! That's an amazing little factoid, but it makes you think: if your bone marrow is creating 2 million cells per second, it is doing so because 2 million blood cells are dying per second. Since a unit of blood, stored, waiting to be transfused, is about one tenth of a person's whole blood supply, that means that one tenth of that figure, about 200,000 red blood cells, are dying each second. If blood is stored for just one hour, that's 72,000,000 dead cells. I'm not feeling real great about 72,000,000 dead anything being pumped into my body. What's the number of dead cells after a day? A week? How long before they begin to putrify?

White blood cells come in many varieties. Some of them live for a year, but some die every 36 hours. So a unit of stored blood has millions of dead white cells in it also. Other blood constituents, such as antibodies and hormones, also begin to break down and die in stored blood.

In the normal course of things, these broken down and decaying blood constituents are filtered out by your liver and kidneys, and passed out of your body in your feces and urine. When a unit of blood is drawn from someone, some of this pre-feces-pre-urine material was on it's way to the donor's kidneys and liver, and got sidetracked into the IV needle, to be stored for someone's transfusion. If you're like me, you may be struggling to come to grips with how you would feel about having this quart of rotting material routed into your arteries. I think the word you're looking for is "eeeew."

But there's more. While blood is rushing around in your bloodstream, the motion generates a chemical called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is vital to your blood's ability to carry oxygen. It helps dilate your smallest blood vessels to allow blood to squeeze through. If blood can't get to the smallest passageways, it can't offload it's oxygen. And transporting oxygen to your cells is kind of the whole point of transfusing blood.

However, when blood is removed from a donor and sits still in a storage bag, it no longer generates nitric oxide, and it immediately begins losing whatever nitric oxide it contains. Some tests indicate that stored blood has lost most of it's nitric oxide - hence most of it's oxygen-carrying capacity - within three hours of being removed from a donor. Three hours!

For these and other reasons, many doctors are taking a long, hard look at blood transfusions. Several studies have shown that patients that are treated without blood transfusions have shorter stays in the hospital, and fewer post-operative problems.

For example, it was reported this week that Dr Jimmy Chow of St. Luke's Medical Center in Phoenix has developed a micro-invasive hip replacement procedure. Hip replacement is typically a bloody operation, but Chow claims that with his method the patient loses no more than 200 cc's - about 6 ounces - of blood.

Next time you read a story that uses the expression "life saving blood transfusion," you might want to forward this article to the writer of that story.

]]> News and Hot Topics such as Hepatitis C, SARS and AIDS Informaticus http://www.noblood.org/news-hot-topics-such-hepatitis-c-sars-aids/6668-life-saving-blood-transfusion.html The Truth About Blood Transfusions-PBS program http://www.noblood.org/news-hot-topics-such-hepatitis-c-sars-aids/6657-truth-about-blood-transfusions-pbs-program.html Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:11:38 GMT For those who may have missed the show, here's the link to be able to watch it on line.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1570883619/ ]]> News and Hot Topics such as Hepatitis C, SARS and AIDS Leslie Richards http://www.noblood.org/news-hot-topics-such-hepatitis-c-sars-aids/6657-truth-about-blood-transfusions-pbs-program.html