New Jersey – Hospital introduces bloodless medicine and surgery program
January 20, 2014; Posted by: WeBleed staff
St. Peter’s University Hospital in Somerset, New Jersey experiments with bloodless medicine.
Blood transfusions could be a thing of the past according to an article released by mycentraljersey.com today. One hospital in New Jersey is finding ways to avoid using blood products. The hospital mentioned the following as the focus to why bloodless medicine is becoming popular:
While religious conviction can be the driving force behind the desire for bloodless medicine, other patients choose the option because they are uncomfortable or concerned about the use of blood products. While transfusions today are believed to be safer than ever, there are always risks. A bloodless program reduces exposure to a variety of risk factors and minimizes blood loss with improved medical and surgical techniques and interventions.
There is evidence that patients who avoid transfusions have:
• Fewer complications
• Faster recoveries and shorter hospital stays
• Lower rates of the most serious postoperative complications, including heart attack, stroke and infections
• Decreased risk of immunological complications and allergic reactions
• Less exposure to blood-borne viruses and infections
• No risk of receiving the wrong blood type
Past history tells us that there has not been a critical outbreak of tainted blood in over 30 years and finding alternatives to avoid another outbreak like the 1980s era is always an interesting topic of discussion.
Photo Credit – Ed Murray/The Star-LedgerSt. Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick
