Bloodless Medicine
Bloodless Medicine is a means of providing medical care while eliminating or reducing the need for blood transfusions. This program is available to all patients. Bloodless techniques and strategies make it possible to perform some of the most complicated surgeries, such as joint replacement, with minimum blood loss and lower likelihood of blood transfusion.
Created in 1999, Spartanburg Regional’s Bloodless/Blood Conservation Program was the first in South Carolina.
Our unique program has members from various backgrounds including anesthesia, surgery, lab, blood bank, case management and community members, including a representative from Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Since blood banks are struggling to keep up with supply and demand, it is crucial to learn how to preserve our blood supply. Also, trauma situations often demand the need of this precious resource, as do many cancer treatments.
Why Choose Bloodless Medicine?
Minimizing the use of blood is important for several reasons. The nation's critical blood shortage makes it important to conserve blood whenever possible. There are also hazards to blood transfusions, including ABO incompatibility (receiving the wrong blood type), infection and immune suppression. Other reasons to consider bloodless medicine are listed below:
- Viral infection
- Screening limitations
- Increase in Cytomegalovirus disease
- Increase in Hepatitis
- Increase in parasitic disease
- Increase in HIV
- Blood shortages across the nation
- Tattoo recipients restriction
- Medication exclusion
- Aging donor base
- Body-piercing donor ban
- Lack of community support