Bloodless Surgery

Programs that use techniques and procedures that prevent or minimize blood loss in elective and emergency surgeries or stimulate the body"™s own production of blood cells in order to reduce the need for blood transfusions. Included are use of minimally invasive surgery techniques, cauterizing surgical instruments in place of traditional scalpels or specialized devices that filter and return the patient"™s blood in a continuous circuit; medicines that increase red-blood cell production and encourage clotting; medicines that help cancer patients undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy without a blood transfusion; blood dilution therapies; and techniques that lower the patient"™s blood pressure and body temperature. Bloodless surgery is available to patients who wish to avoid donated blood because of religious beliefs or medical concerns.