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Technique of Porcine Liver Procurement and Orthotopic Transplantation using an Active Porto-Caval Shunt
Published on: May 7, 2015
Avoiding blood products during liver transplantation
O Detry1, A Deroover, J Delwaide
1Department of Abdominal Surgery and Transplantation, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. Oli.Detry@chu.ulg.ac.be
Transplantation Proceedings
|September 27, 2005
Summary
This study presents a successful transfusion-free protocol for liver transplantation in Jehovah's Witnesses. This approach, avoiding blood products, may improve outcomes for all liver transplant recipients.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Transplant Surgery
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Liver transplantation frequently necessitates substantial blood product transfusion (red cells, platelets, fresh-frozen plasma).
- Excessive transfusion in liver transplant recipients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
- Jehovah's Witnesses accept organ transplantation but refuse blood products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a multidisciplinary transfusion-free protocol for liver transplantation.
- To assess the feasibility and safety of liver transplantation without blood products in Jehovah's Witnesses.
Main Methods:
- Development of a specialized, multidisciplinary protocol for pre-operative medical preparation.
- Implementation of the protocol in Jehovah's Witnesses undergoing liver transplantation.
- Careful monitoring of patients throughout the perioperative period, strictly avoiding blood products.
Main Results:
- Nine Jehovah's Witnesses underwent liver transplantation between September 1998 and November 2004 after medical preparation.
- None of the transplanted patients received any blood products during the surgical procedure.
- The protocol demonstrated successful avoidance of transfusion in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary transfusion-free protocol is feasible for liver transplantation in select Jehovah's Witnesses.
- This approach may offer benefits in reducing transfusion-related complications for the broader liver transplant population.
- Further investigation into transfusion-free strategies could enhance liver transplant outcomes.
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