NoBlood

I have just recently joined this exciting forum following my search for answers to questions posed by the anaesthetist who will be involved in my DIEP reconstruction operation scheduled for 17th August. This is one of the best sites I have come across that gives comprehensive advice for non-blood management of surgery. I know I will be a regular visitor here! By the way, I am from Liverpool UK.

Lyn Elston x

Dear Lyn,
I will meet with one of my surgeons in regards to your question, and then let him respond. I am glad you found this site. I hope you keep checking with us, and we can address your concerns. I'll try to get back to you as quickly as possible.

Mary and Jessica,

Just to clarify, the anesthetist has stated categorically that he WILL NOT use blood peri-operatively but that, in order to keep the transplanted tissue 'alive' he may need to administer blood post-op if my hb levels drop to 7. I am awaiting an appointment to see the Consultant Surgeon to discuss this with him further. Suggestions have been made with regard to boosting my levels with IV iron and EPO to 15 which should address this situation but as I said I am awaiting a meeting with CS. My scheduled date for surgery is 17th August. If we are going to go along the EPO/Iron route pre-op, we need to be getting our skates on!

Many thanks for your early response to the above.

Lyn Elston.

Oooops! I didn't mean that you wonderful people offering to find out info for me need to get your skates on - far from it. What I meant was that if the CS I am under is going to be able to assist in this situation and that involves pre-op EPO and/or IV Iron, then skates need to be donned if this op date is to go ahead. Apologies if my comment seemed otherwise.

Lyn x x

Lyn,
We understood what you meant. We've found that when initiating an EPO dosing protocol, it usually takes 10 days for a supply of good RBCs to enter the blood stream. This is not always the case. Sometimes patient's Hgb/Hct improve in just a few days, some don't improve at all and we've seen some improve after surgery. This last occurs when a patient's system has been stimulated (by the dosing regimen) before the surgery. Anyway, I'll privately email you the protocol we've found success with.