• Hematological Agents (stimulate blood cell growth and development):
    • Synthetic Erythropoietin: 
      Also known as PROCRIT, EPOGEN, or "EPO"; this medication stimulates the patients own bone marrow to produce red blood cells
    • Synthetic Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor:
      Also known as also known as Neupogen or G-CSF;  this medication stimulates the bone marrow to produce neutrophils, a specific infection-fighting white blood
    • Synthetic Interleukin-11: 
      This medication stimulates the bone marrow to produce platelets
  • Hemostatic agents (promote clotting;  can be given intravenously or applied topically):
    • Aminocaproic Acid and Tranexamic Acid:
      Medications given intravenously which slow or stop the breakdown of blood clots
  • Medical and Surgical Techniques:
    • Controlled Hypotension/Hypotensive anesthesia:
      Intentional and controlled lowering of blood pressure reduces bleeding by decreasing pressure on injured blood vessels and causing less disruption of newly formed clots    
    • Arterial Embolization:
      Therapeutic introduction of either mechanical or chemical agents into blood vessels to occlude them.  In emergencies, embolization can control active bleeding from a lacerated artery.  This intervention may avoid general anesthesia and major surgery (postpartum hemorrhage, uterine fibroids, gastro-intestinal bleeding)
  • Blood conservation devices and equipment (devices which promote clotting):
    • Electrocautery:
      A probe heated by electric current which cauterizes capillary vessels and small arteries during surgical procedures
    • Harmonic Scalpel: 
      A scalpel that uses sound waves to seal tissue as it cuts, used during surgery on vascular organs, such as the spleen or liver
    • Argon Beam Coagulator: 
      A device which uses argon gas to coagulate blood vessels to lessen bleeding
    • Endoscopy: 
      Using a flexible tube-like device a visual examination of the interior of the stomach, intestines, and other body cavities is possible
    • Laparoscopy: 
      Using a tube-like device abdominal structures can be visualized through a small "keyhole" incision
  • Volume Expanders: 
    Intravenous fluids enhance the circulation of the patient’s own blood by maintaining adequate volume
  • Minimally invasive surgery:
    Performed with specialized devices designed to use small incisions, minimizing blood loss; bleeding or other problems can be located, diagnosed, and treated without conventional open surgery)     (click here to learn more about minimally invasive surgery)
  • Laboratory Sampling: 
    Minimal volumes of blood samples are obtain for laboratory analysis
  • Intra-operative blood salvage (“Cell-saver”): 
    The patient’s own blood in recovered, filtered, and returned during surgery
  • Hemodilution: 
    At the start of the surgical procedure some of the patient’s own blood is diverted through a closed circuit while intravenous fluids are given to replace blood volume.  This technique dilutes the patients’ blood and reduces the amounts of blood cells and clotting factors lost during surgery
  • Oximetry: 
    This is a non-invasive monitoring of the oxygen level of blood