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 SEATTLE (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- During many surgeries, doctors pump several units of donated blood into their patients. But what if the blood isn't available? The American Red Cross reports donations are not keeping up with increased demand. Now there's a push to use fewer transfusions, and technology is making it possible.
This donated blood is sitting out the next surgery -- a major operation that would usually need it. But Dale Reisner has decided not to use donor blood during her open heart surgery. "It's a precious resource," she says. "It's a limited commodity."
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As a surgeon herself, Reisner knows how limited the blood supply can be. "It's really used best for trauma and acute surgical emergencies," she tells Ivanhoe.
About 14 million units of blood were used last year in the United States. The American Red Cross reports donations are increasing by about 3 percent annually in the United States, but demand is climbing by between 6 percent and 8 percent -- as an aging population requires more operations that often involve blood transfusion.
 Bloodless surgery used to mostly be requested by Jehovah's Witnesses. Now, more than 25 percent of patients asking for no donor blood do so for non-religious reasons. Studies show transfusions lead to more infections and complications.
Lori Heller, M.D., a bloodless surgery expert at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, says, "We're probably using blood transfusions too commonly and too regularly and using it for patients who don't need it."
For weeks, Reisner had hormone injections to boost her blood count. Now, doctors will transfuse her with her own blood during the surgery -- if she needs it.
 Other ways to avoid transfusions: During the surgery, a cell salvage machine collects blood, spins it, washes it, filters it and returns the patient's own red blood cells. "It prevents many transfusions and the patient having to receive banked blood," Dr. Heller says.
New blood testing techniques only need a drop -- rather than a whole tube -- of the patient's blood. And all of these techniques mean safer surgeries ... And saves a precious resource for emergencies.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Mary Ghiglione
Swedish Medical Center
Blood Management Center
(206) 386-3544
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