Bloodless Surgery

Blood Conservation Program

Bloodless Surgery Blood conservation/ bloodless medicine and surgery is an advanced way of providing medical care that uses state-of-the-art techniques to minimize a patient’s blood loss before, during and after treatment. This sophisticated approach permits doctors to care for patients without using blood products because each patient retains enough of his or her own blood.
Blood conservation/ bloodless medicine began years ago in response to concerns about the safety of the nation’s blood supply. Now, blood conservation/ bloodless medicine and surgery are accepted modern medical practices. The bloodless approach also speeds healing and the recovery process.

Mercy recognized the potential health benefits of a bloodless approach and, in 2001, we began our own Blood Conservation / Bloodless Medicine program. Certified by the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Institute, Mercy’s program enables physicians, nurses, therapists and technicians to combine their expertise and experience in an environment that completely supports the bloodless approach. If you choose bloodless medicine, all caregivers involved in your care – from the admitting office to the nursing units to the laboratory and operating room – are aware of your choice to pursue bloodless medical techniques. With this integrated approach, you can rest assured that we are committed to your choice of care.

Some of the specialized blood conservation/ bloodless medicine techniques and equipment that Mercy surgeons may utilize to assist in your continued care include:

ADVANCED CELL SAVER SYSTEM

This sophisticated system carefully conserves and recirculates blood that might otherwise be lost during surgery.

METICULOUS SURGICAL TECHNIQUES

Painstaking attention is paid to minimize blood loss at all times.

ELECTROCAUTERY - ELECTROSURGICAL COAGULATOR/ ARGON LASER/ HARMONIC SCALPEL

Use energy to stop bleeding from vessels during surgery.

HYPERBARIC CHAMBER

Treatments in this special chamber help the body absorb more oxygen into tissues before and after surgery, speeding the healing process.

PULSE OXIMETRY MONITORING

This device tracks oxygen levels in the blood during surgery (and at any other time necessary), with a non-invasive skin monitor to allow maximization of oxygen in the blood.

SYNTHETIC ERYTHROPOIETIN

This hormone stimulates the patient’s bone marrow to produce more red blood cells and may be used to boost the patient’s hemoglobin level before surgery.

INTRAVENOUS IRON/ ORAL IRON

Vitamins and nutritional supplements are used in conjunction with Intravenous Iron and Oral Iron in perioperative patients to build red blood cells that carry oxygen to vital tissue.

HEMOSTATIC AGENTS

Synthetic agents are used during surgery to minimize blood loss.

VOLUME EXPANDERS

The use of these intravenous fluids dilutes the blood and helps maintain adequate blood pressure.

MICROSAMPLING

Very small amounts of blood are taken for testing, rather than the larger quantities routinely drawn.

For more information, call:

Katie Simmons, RN/ CNOR
Blood Conservation/ Bloodless Medicine & Surgery
Mercy Medical Center
330-458-4279

Kirby Sweitzer, M.D., FACS
Medical/ Surgical Director
Blood Conservation/ Bloodless Medicine & Surgery
Mercy Medical Center
330-580-4706