How We Started
In October, 1996, Hartford Hospital became the first hospital in Connecticut with a bloodless medicine and surgery program.  Through a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, complex procedures such as cardiac surgery, including off-bypass procedures, aortic aneurysm repair, total joint replacements, kidney transplants, hand-assisted laproscopic nephrectomy, embolization of uterine arteries, TIPPS procedures and major oncological procedures have been performed without blood transfusions.
 
Why We Started
As a Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery (CBMS), Hartford Hospital has adopted the most effective and aggressive techniques to reduce the need for blood replacement in all our patients and meet the needs of the community we serve.  These include patients with deeply held religious and personal beliefs regarding blood transfusions. Our staff provides care with absolute respect of the patient’s rights of autonomy and self-determination.
 
Why Bloodless Medicine and Surgery?
Bloodless medicine and surgery is not just for those with deeply held religious beliefs, such as Jehovah's Witnesses.  Consumers who are proactive in their own health care benefit from educating themselves in alternatives to blood transfusions.  With this information the patient is comfortable making educated decisions. 
 
The Mission of the Hartford Hospital Center for Bloodless Medicine & Surgery is to provide, in respect of patient’s rights to autonomy and self determination, surgical and/or medical treatment without the administration of blood or blood related products.
 
Our Goals
  • Minimize blood loss during and after surgical, medical or laboratory procedures
  • Provide alternative methods to maintain or expand volume
  • Provide alternative methods for increasing oxygen carrying capacity

Our Center Provides

  • Referral to physicians who specialize in techniques of non-blood management
  • and who respect the patient's right to self-determination
  • Patient education and assistance regarding Advance Directives
  • Preadmission drug therapy to stimulate erythropoiesis in preparation for surgery
  • Minimization of laboratory sampling;  intraoperative techniques to minimize blood loss
  • Staff and community education regarding non-blood management and patient beliefs
  • Networking with other CBMS programs to assure that the latest techniques and alternatives to transfusions are available for our patients and physicians

Benefits of Bloodless Medicine and Surgery

  • Faster recovery
  • Less invasive surgery
  • Meticulous technique to minimize blood loss
  • Minimized risks of blood-borne diseases
  • Reduced stress on immune system
  • Minimized chance of infections after surgery
  • Cost effective medical care
  • Preservation of limited blood supply

Our Team

A multidisciplinary team is involved in the preoperative, intraoperative and post operative care of CBMS patients. This is essential in bloodless surgery.

The coordinator of the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery, who understands the religious beliefs of patients unable to accept blood transfusions, educates the patients regarding alternatives to transfusions.

The coordinator assists the patients in completing an advance directive that clearly defines which fractional blood products and intraoperative techniques are acceptable to the patient. This advance directive provides information needed for the team of physicians caring for the patient.

The team works together to provide bloodless care to patients enrolled in the CBMS. Physician assistants, residents, perfusionist and nurses are essential members of the team. All members of the team understand and respect patient request for bloodless surgery.

Contact Us

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