Conservative Blood Management and Anesthetic Considerations a Jehovah’s Witness Patient Undergoing Pancreatoduodenectomy. A Case Report

Abstract

Major surgery in a Jehovah's Witness patient represents a challenge for the anesthetic and surgical team not only because of the ethical dilemma, but also because it creates a major obstacle to the rapid control of hemorrhage in a surgical setting. We present a case report of a pancreatoduodenectomy in a Jehovah's Witness patient who refused to be transfused with the use of the principles of bloodless surgery and maintenance of cell savage as a backup, if necessary. The advances in our understanding of hemostatic agents and available techniques for managing patient bleeding represent options for avoiding blood transfusion in this patient population and all patients undergoing major surgery