• Lower the risk of exposure to viruses such
as hepatitis and HIV
• Keep a patient's natural immune system
strong
• Improve outcomes and patient satisfaction
• Conserve the nation's blood supply
• Address a patient's religious objections
• Reduce the amount of transfusion reactions
• Maintain cost effectiveness
Clinical Benefits and Higher
Patient Satisfaction
Several recent studies indicate
that transfusion-free surgery can lead to
improved outcomes and higher satisfaction
for many patients. One study found that
patients receiving cardiovascular surgery
without blood transfusion had comparable or
fewer hospitalization days, lower rates of
infection, greater patient satisfaction, and
mortality rates equivalent to those who
received blood. Another study of patients
who underwent coronary artery bypass
grafting found that five-year mortality was
more than twice as high in those who
received perioperative blood transfusions
than in those who did not.