Perioperative Jehovah's Witnesses: a review

Abstract

There are many patient groups who may refuse blood products; the most well known amongst them is the Jehovah's Witness faith. Treatment of anaemia and bleeding in such patients presents a challenge to medical, anaesthetic, and surgical teams. This review examines the perioperative issues and management of Jehovah's Witnesses. The history and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are outlined together with their impact on ethics and the law, and different management options throughout the perioperative period are discussed.

Medical and Surgical Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage in a Woman with Factor XIII Deficiency

“…These forbidden blood products include red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma. Blood fractions, including cryoprecipitate and individual clotting factors, are acceptable to some Jehovah's Witnesses, including the patient in this case [19]. In the past, our patient had previously accepted prenatal infusion of cryoprecipitate.…”

“…Administration of blood products against the wishes of a patient is a potentially criminal act that could be subject to prosecution [19]. These forbidden blood products include red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma.…”

Can Living Transplant Donors Refuse Blood Transfusion? Case Reports of Living Kidney Transplantation From Jehovah's Witnesses

“…Operations in JW have led to greater awareness of blood conservation and advances in blood-free surgeries (1). With the combined use of erythropoietin and self-donated blood preoperatively, or cell salvage and transfusion alternatives intraoperatively, more invasive surgeries than nephrectomy have been performed successfully without blood transfusion.…”

Effects of Microporous Polysaccharide Powder in a Model of Dilution on Viscoelastic Characteristics of Clot Formation - An In-Vitro Study

“…In this situation liquid substitution by crystalloids or colloids can lead to dilution and coagulopathy is a common resulting clinical finding. 4DF could be an option for this situations 36 .…”