Auto-donation of blood for upcoming

[KristiinSD]

surgery. My surgeon suggested I do this, although he doesn't think I will need a transfusion. The cost is $275 @ unit, and he would like to do 3 though I am wondering if two will be enough. Any thoughts?

Kristi
mr
surgery
9/29/05

 

[Ross]

Most all facilities now clean your blood and give it back to you during surgery. Usually no additional is needed, though there is always that risk that perhaps you will. It should not cost you a penny to donate your own blood for your own use!!!!!

 

[bvdr]

Most all facilities now clean your blood and give it back to you during surgery. Usually no additional is needed, though there is always that risk that perhaps you will. It should not cost you a penny to donate your own blood for your own use!!!!!

You wouldn't think so would you but it really is very labor intensive to process and store it in preparation to have it in the ready.

Kristi, unless your surgeon has a specific reason for this such as a rare blood type then I personally wouldn't. I came very close to needing a couple of units as my hemoglobin went from over 16 down to 9 but then leveled out.

 

[KristiinSD]

He plans on giving it back to me, if I don't need it

He plans on giving it back to me, if I don't need it

for a transfusion. He said it would boost my platlet levels.

Kristi

 

[Mb]

Dear Kristi:

I will only tell you of what happened to my husband.

He was pretty sick before his surgery, and his surgeon also thought he should donate his own blood. We went to the Red Cross for the first donation, and frankly that went OK. Two weeks later, he was actually even sicker, we went in, and they refused to take his blood, as his pulse was "thready". They strongly suggested that I take him immediately to the ER. He refused to go. I then drove to his PCP's office, and insisted his Dr. check him out, as he was due for the surgery in ten days. The Dr. then called his cardio, they gave him oxygen for about two hours, and sent him home. He was anemic by this point. We were eventually charged $500.00 for the one unit of blood, which they did not use during the surgery. Needless to say he was VERY anemic after the surgery, and remains slightly anemic to this day. He absolutely did not want anyone else's blood except his own, or mine if need be. I think he would have been in better condition going in to the surgery had he NOT donated his own blood. He would have been stronger.

That's my two cents!

Marybeth

 

[PJmomrunner]

My surgeon also said there would be no need.

 

[hensylee]

Can someone start a poll asking 'did you need a transfusion during your surgery?' I think this would give us all a perspective about this. I just don't know, but I don't recall many saying they needed one.

 

[tobagotwo]

I agree with Betty, inthat unless you have a rare blood type or need some special type of surgery, it is very rare to need blood for valve surgery. The great bulk of surgeons are insulted if you ask them about predonating (I did and mine was, so I didn't).

As far as packing you with platelets after surgery, that thought surprises me. I'm not a doctor, but by logic it would seem to up your risk for a post-surgical stroke, along with any positive effects it might have.

And three units before 9/29? I wonder if he'll have to give them back to you just to get your blood count high enough to do the surgery...

Does he do much OHS?

Best wishes,

 

[Paul_R]

My surgeon asked me to donate. He wanted me to donate 3 units of my own blood. He also wanted plasma. The upshot was I donated 2 units of my own, and 4 friends donated blood or plasma on my behalf. In the end I did not need any of it.

The bottom line is, it was there in case I needed it. I was never charged for donating but would have been charged if I had used my own blood.

 

[tobagotwo]

Paul's donation is more understandable. Dr. Laks (very well-respected, by the way) was going in where some serious work had been done before, and doing much more than a mitral repair-or-replace.

You're up for first-time OHS, I believe. I would want to know if and why the surgeon might have extra concerns for your surgery, if it were me.

Best wishes,

 

[Karlynn]

3 seems like a lot for a 1st time-never-been-in-there-before surgery. 14 years ago I donated 1 of my own and my SIL donated 1. The surgeon went ahead and put mine back in me because I was a little anemic, but I think it was because it was a "we have it, we may as well use it" case.

 

[RCB]

Over the years.....

Over the years.....

Most hospitals have gotten away from having pts. deal with getting there own blood.
Here are my Stats:
First surgery 1960- Had to rent a bus and bring my blood donor in person to
the hospital the day of surgery- Brought 35, needed 32.
Second surgery 1964- Same deal, brought 32, needed 30.
Third surgery 1982- Didn't have to do a thing, they use 6 pints.
Fourth surgery 2004- Didn't use any.
Also one note is that I have AB negative blood- the rarest type. Didn't seem
to make any different, when I told CC that.

I think the big difference is the higher volume hospital have a system in place to deal the need if it arises.

 

[lance]

Autologous Blood

Autologous Blood

Prior to my 1999 MVR surgery I banked 3 units with 2 weeks between each donation and was told to eat dried fruit for the iron. The third donation was the hardest one me.

All 3 units were used and I was transfused with the 3rd unit following the surgery because the red cell count crashed.

Another surgery coming up and surgeon wants 2 units taken at a two week interval and to take over the counter iron tablets--fewer calories.

I'd rather not deal with donated blood either especially following the blood scandle in Canada when blood donations were not checked for HIV and Hepatitis thereby infecting many recipients.

 

[windsurfer]

filler/unmashed

filler/unmashed

My surgeon suggested I donate one unit ahead of time. I did it Aug 30. Surgery was September 14 so enough time to recover. Since it was to be used as whole blood it had a shelf life of 30 - 35 days. Since surgery was just postponed it might not get used in time.

I'm confused about the logic for the donation - but I remember two reasons mentioned:
1. if small individual relative to volume of heart lung machine, the unit means less fillers needed. I'm 5' 9" and 142 lbs.
2. heart lung machine "mashes" up the blood so if unit given back to you after surgery then have fresh "unmashed" blood to help you recover. "Mashed" is my term since I don't remember the exact word used.

Wasn't sure which use mine was for.

Bob

 

[tobagotwo]

Lance, I have to wonder if your red cell count would have crashed if you hadn't donated 3 pints in six weeks - something they won't even let a completely healthy person do.

A great fix to have ready, or the cause of the problem?

Best wishes,

 

[KristiinSD]

As always, Thanks! You are the best!

As always, Thanks! You are the best!

My surgeon was just suggesting it as a preventive, he doesn't think he will need it and frankly I don't think I can find the time to do three units. I think I will do one and hope for the best.

Interestingly, the two other surgeons I met with never said anything about blood. And yes, my surgeon does lots of OHS and 2 to 4 mitral valves a week.

Still nervous,

Kristi
mr
8/29/05

 

[windsurfer]

epogen to boost RBC?

epogen to boost RBC?

My surgeon also said he wanted to give me an epogen shot on Friday before the surgery the following Wednesday. I believe it is used to boost your ability to make more red blood cells though its effect doesn't kick in for about 10 days. But I never got the shot on Friday so perhaps he changed his mind because my RBC was good enough 2 weeks after the autologous donation or he was planning to give it to me on the surgery day which would have been tomorrow.

Bob

 

[lance]

Quick Fix or not

Quick Fix or not

Hello Bob

Great question. You're probably right--that hadn't occurred to me before now.

Cheers

Lance, I have to wonder if your red cell count would have crashed if you hadn't donated 3 pints in six weeks - something they won't even let a completely healthy person do.

A great fix to have ready, or the cause of the problem?

Best wishes,