scholarly journals The Socio-Cultural Aspects of Blood Transfusion Refusal by Jehovah's Witnesses in Japan

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-302
Author(s):  
Shin HOSHINO
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Jehovah’S Witnesses ◽  
Jehovah's Witnesses ◽  
Cultural Aspects

scholarly journals How to approach orthognathic surgery in patients who refuse blood transfusion

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 404-410
Author(s):  
Sang Hwan Lee ◽  
Dong Gyu Kim ◽  
Ho Seong Shin
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Orthognathic Surgery ◽  
Blood Transfusions ◽  
Recombinant Erythropoietin ◽  
Jehovah’S Witnesses ◽  
Jehovah's Witnesses ◽  
Hypotensive Anesthesia ◽  
Normovolemic Hemodilution ◽  
Surgery Center ◽  
Bloodless Surgery

Background Some patients who need surgery refuse a blood transfusion because of their religious beliefs or concerns about blood-borne infections. In recent years, bloodless surgery has been performed successfully in many procedures, and is therefore of increasing interest in orthognathic surgery.Methods Ten Jehovah’s Witnesses who visited our bloodless surgery center for orthognathic surgery participated in this study. To maintain hemoglobin (Hb) levels above 10 g/dL before surgery, recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) was subcutaneously administered and iron supplements were intravenously administered. During surgery, acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) and induced hypotensive anesthesia were used. To elevate the Hb levels to >10 g/dL after surgery, a similar method to the preoperative approach was used.Results The 10 patients comprised three men and seven women. Their average Hb level at the first visit was 11.1 g/dL. With treatment according to our protocol, the average preoperative Hb level rose to 12.01 g/dL, and the average Hb level on postoperative day 1 was 10.01 g/dL. No patients needed a blood transfusion, and all patients were discharged without any complications.Conclusions This study presents a way to manage patients who refuse blood transfusions while undergoing orthognathic surgery. rEPO and iron supplementation were used to maintain Hb levels above 10 g/dL. During surgery, blood loss was minimized by a meticulous procedure and induced hypotensive anesthesia, and intravascular volume was maintained by ANH. Our practical approach to orthognathic surgery for Jehovah’s Witnesses can be applied to the management of all patients who refuse blood transfusions.

Bloodless surgery and gynecological patients among Jehovah’s Witnesses

2021 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-113
Author(s):  
Milan Kudela ◽  
◽  
Radovan Pilka ◽  
Petr Dzvinčuk ◽  
Radim Marek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Blood Loss ◽  
Gynecologic Surgery ◽  
Jehovah’S Witnesses ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Jehovah's Witnesses ◽  
Estimated Blood Loss ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Bloodless Surgery ◽  
Excessive Blood Loss

Overview Objective: The aim of this research is to present our experiences with the surgical treatment of gynecological patients among Jehovah’s Witnesses. Moreover, the medical, moral, and ethical problems in this regard have been highlighted. Methods: 75 Jehovah’s Witnesses patients were operated on for various benign and malignant gynecological diseases between 2007 and 2018. All of these patients were operated on according to the rules of blood-sparing surgery. Results: The operations were assessed according to the dia­gnosis, mode of surgery, estimated blood loss, and disease outcome. Excessive blood loss did not occur during any of these operations, and the estimated blood loss for the same procedure was 10 to 550 mL. Conclusion: Jehovah’s Witnesses gynecological patients is a group of high-risk patients because they refuse to undergo blood transfusion. Nevertheless, the principles of blood-sparing surgery should be applied to not only Jehovah’s Witnesses patients but also to all patients in general. Even if a blood transfusion is the last resort to solve issues pertaining to excessive blood loss during complicated operations, the said procedure always carries certain risks. Therefore, blood transfusion should be performed only on rare occasions. Jehovah’s Witnesses patients categorically refuse blood transfusion even if it is the only way to save one’s life. Even though the legislation of the Czech Republic deals with this problem, there are other moral and ethical aspects that need to be addressed in this regard. Keywords: bloodless surgery – Gynecologic surgery – Jehovah’s Witnesses – legislation – moral and ethical problems

scholarly journals Blood transfusion refusal by pregnant and puerperal Jehovah's witnesses

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Araujo Bezerra ◽  
Mônica Bimbatti Cesar ◽  
Sônia Regina Godinho de Lara
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Jehovah’S Witnesses ◽  
Jehovah's Witnesses
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