Bloodless Surgery
What is Bloodless Surgery?
Whether due to the values and beliefs of an individual or not, bloodless surgery aims to facilitate surgical treatment without the deliberate use of blood transfusion. Bloodless surgery uses the latest technology and the most recent drug developments to achieve its goal. During the period prior to surgery, doctor's perform the necessary treatment required to obtain the optimum “blood condition” (only if the patent does not already have it). Then, the rigorous thoroughness and excellent skills of the surgeons, who realize the importance of avoiding blood loss and who, with their extensive experience performing bloodless surgery, use the best surgical techniques personalized for each case, which are characterized by being the least traumatic possible, recover or minimize the blood from the surgical site and promote hemostasis.
Bloodless surgery is centered on the individual and always takes into account his/her decisions. In a relaxed atmosphere they establish an open dialogue with the medical team, expressing his/her needs. Based on this, the team of professionals can offer the best treatment available.
Currently there are only a few surgical procedures where bloodless surgery techniques can’t be used.
How does it work?
Bloodless surgery is holistic and so does not only include the bloodless surgery itself, but also the whole range of related activities from the preoperative evaluation to the postoperative follow-up, once home, and obviously once surgery has taken place. It integrates foresight by anticipating everything that might be needed and therefore makes it possible to plan ahead and enable the best and most constant prevention possible. This implies taking a proactive approach and being prepared to handle any incident that may occur during the surgical procedure.
Thus, being that the goal is always to place the individual at the center of all treatments, and to respect their decision not to receive a blood transfusion, bloodless surgery is specifically designed to find and propose all feasible alternatives in this situation:
These principles are interrelated throughout the whole process, right from several weeks before hospital admission to the postoperative outpatient visit, with the sole purpose of achieving better results for the patient.
Technically, among other options, the use of anesthetic techniques (normovolemic hemodilution, controlled hypotension, patient positioning in the operating room, intra- and post-operative cell savers and specific pharmacology (intravenous and oral iron, EPO, tranexamic acid, Factor VII and Fibrinogen are utilized.
Informed Consent Legislation
The informed consent specific for bloodless surgery includes the clauses related to the rejection of blood fractions by the patient, as well as, therapeutic alternatives that will be used. As with any informed consent it can be revoked by the patient at any time.
Patients who will undergo high-risk surgery normally provide a living will which is a legal document stating the patient’s wishes. This document can also reflect the patient’s wishes regarding the administration of blood components.
If the patient, either during their stay or at any stage during the process, changes his/her mind and allows the administration of blood products, this can be done simply by talking to the surgeon and revoking the specific consent which is signed to this effect.
Bloodless surgery in pediatrics is possible, taking into account the above statements and with the consent of the parent or legal guardian. However, in the case of children, the law in some countries require doctors to give blood transfusions to minors if it is considered necessary to prevent the patient's death or loss of a major organ function.
Whether due to the values and beliefs of an individual or not, bloodless surgery aims to facilitate surgical treatment without the deliberate use of blood transfusion. Bloodless surgery uses the latest technology and the most recent drug developments to achieve its goal. During the period prior to surgery, doctor's perform the necessary treatment required to obtain the optimum “blood condition” (only if the patent does not already have it). Then, the rigorous thoroughness and excellent skills of the surgeons, who realize the importance of avoiding blood loss and who, with their extensive experience performing bloodless surgery, use the best surgical techniques personalized for each case, which are characterized by being the least traumatic possible, recover or minimize the blood from the surgical site and promote hemostasis.
Bloodless surgery is centered on the individual and always takes into account his/her decisions. In a relaxed atmosphere they establish an open dialogue with the medical team, expressing his/her needs. Based on this, the team of professionals can offer the best treatment available.
Currently there are only a few surgical procedures where bloodless surgery techniques can’t be used.
How does it work?
Bloodless surgery is holistic and so does not only include the bloodless surgery itself, but also the whole range of related activities from the preoperative evaluation to the postoperative follow-up, once home, and obviously once surgery has taken place. It integrates foresight by anticipating everything that might be needed and therefore makes it possible to plan ahead and enable the best and most constant prevention possible. This implies taking a proactive approach and being prepared to handle any incident that may occur during the surgical procedure.
Thus, being that the goal is always to place the individual at the center of all treatments, and to respect their decision not to receive a blood transfusion, bloodless surgery is specifically designed to find and propose all feasible alternatives in this situation:
- Anemia control & optimization of hemoglobin. This includes all procedures and therapies appropriate to maintain, preserve and increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
- Conservation of blood during surgery, maintaining the level of hemoglobin. This avoids a very invasive treatment by using less invasive alternatives, and ensures a minimum blood loss. Meticulous hemostasis and precise surgical techniques.
These principles are interrelated throughout the whole process, right from several weeks before hospital admission to the postoperative outpatient visit, with the sole purpose of achieving better results for the patient.
Technically, among other options, the use of anesthetic techniques (normovolemic hemodilution, controlled hypotension, patient positioning in the operating room, intra- and post-operative cell savers and specific pharmacology (intravenous and oral iron, EPO, tranexamic acid, Factor VII and Fibrinogen are utilized.
Informed Consent Legislation
The informed consent specific for bloodless surgery includes the clauses related to the rejection of blood fractions by the patient, as well as, therapeutic alternatives that will be used. As with any informed consent it can be revoked by the patient at any time.
Patients who will undergo high-risk surgery normally provide a living will which is a legal document stating the patient’s wishes. This document can also reflect the patient’s wishes regarding the administration of blood components.
If the patient, either during their stay or at any stage during the process, changes his/her mind and allows the administration of blood products, this can be done simply by talking to the surgeon and revoking the specific consent which is signed to this effect.
Bloodless surgery in pediatrics is possible, taking into account the above statements and with the consent of the parent or legal guardian. However, in the case of children, the law in some countries require doctors to give blood transfusions to minors if it is considered necessary to prevent the patient's death or loss of a major organ function.
Surgeons
Dr. Xavier Ruyra
Expertise: Mitral Valve Repair Ross Procedure Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Aortic Valve Replacement Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery |
Dr. Lluis Aguilar
Expertise: Cervical Disc Replacement Scoliosis Surgery Dynamic Stabilization of the Lumbar Spine |
Dr. Bartolomé Oliver
Expertise: Endoscopic Skull Base Approach Epilepsy Surgery Dynamic Stabilization of the Lumbar Spine Parkinson's Disease Surgery |