Bloodless Orthotopic Heart Transplantation in a Jehovah's Witness.

Published

Journal Article

We present the case of a 53-year-old female Jehovah's Witness with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who successfully underwent a bloodless heart transplantation using fibrinogen concentrate (RiaSTAP; CSL Behring, King of Prussia, PA) and other blood-conservation methods. With a multidisciplinary team and the use of preoperative erythropoietin-stimulating drugs, normovolemic hemodilution, cell salvage, and pharmacotherapy to prevent and treat coagulopathy, we were able to maintain hemoglobin levels greater than 11 g/dL without the need for blood transfusion. We conclude that orthotopic heart transplants may be performed successfully in select Jehovah's Witness patients using standard and novel blood conservation methods.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Dallas, T; Welsby, I; Bottiger, B; Milano, C; Daneshmand, M; Guinn, N

Published Date

  • May 15, 2015

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 4 / 10

Start / End Page

  • 140 - 142

PubMed ID

  • 25974419

Pubmed Central ID

  • 25974419

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2325-7237

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1213/XAA.0000000000000067

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States