NoBlood

Before you prescribe blood in the Operating Room - ask yourself:

• What improvement am I aiming to achieve in this patient’s clinical condition? Can I reduce blood loss to minimise this patient’s need for transfusion?

• Have I given other treatment (e.g. intravenous replacement fluids, oxygen) before making the decision to transfuse blood?

• What are the specific clinical or laboratory indications for transfusion?

• What are the risks of transmitting HIV, hepatitis, syphilis or other infectious agents through the blood products that are available for this patient?

• Do the benefits of transfusion outweigh the risks of blood transfusion for this particular patient? What other options are there as alternatives to blood? Have I done everything I can to avoid using blood?

• In the postoperative period will a trained person monitor and respond immediately if any adverse transfusion reactions occur?

• Finally, the most important question you should ask before making a decision - would I accept this transfusion in this clinical condition, if this blood was for myself or my child?

Source material - Update in Anaesthesia - CLINICAL USE OF BLOOD ;Issue 14 (2002) Article 6: Page 1 of 1

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Mr. Jan B. Wade
Blood Management Consultant
Enhance Outcomes - Control Cost
For Information Call - 360 296-1807
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