• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 2006

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse a transfusion of blood or blood products because of religious beliefs; this refusal at times presents a dilemma for the treating physician. We report a case of a 25-year-old Jehovah's Witness patient who underwent a reoperation for a previous proximal humerus shaft fracture and experienced unexpected massive hemorrhage intraoperatively and postoperatively. The postoperative lowest hemoglobin level was 2.9 g/dl. The patient recovered from the severe anemia without any clinical sequala. We review the legal, ethical and religious issues and suggest the best possible medical care that Jehovah's Witness patient would permit.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2012

We report a case of 15 year-old Jehovah's Witness patient with mild anemia who underwent a successful orthognathic two-jaw surgery. Jehovah's Witness patients refuse transfusion of blood or blood products even in life threatening situations. The use of recombinant human erythropoietin and iron supplement increased hemoglobin during preoperative period. Intraoperatively, meticulous surgical hemostasis, acute normovolemic hemodilution and induced hypotension enabled the completion of the operation without the use of blood products.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.645-649
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• 1992

Jehovah`s Witnesses who require cardiac operations represent a challenge to surgeon because of the patients` refusal to accept blood transfusion, We report a 6 year period, ending May, 1991 with a consecutive series of 25 Jehovah`s witnesses. Patients ranged in age from 11 months to 61 years. All operations were performed during cardiopulmonary bypass with bloodless priming, No patient received any blood or blood products during hospitalization. Perioperative mortality was 2 paients[8%]. We conclude that if we performed the cardiac surgery with careful operative technique and various blood conserving procedures, we can do the bloodless open heart surgery with relatively safety.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.100-103
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• 2016

Patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) can rapidly develop profound anemia as the disease progresses, as a consequence of red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis and inadequate erythropoietin synthesis. Therefore, RBC transfusion should be considered in HUS patients with severe anemia to avoid cardiac or pulmonary complications. Most patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusion, even in the face of life-threatening medical conditions due to their religious convictions. These patients require management alternatives to blood transfusions. Erythropoietin is a glycopeptide that enhances endogenous erythropoiesis in the bone marrow. With the availability of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), several authors have reported its successful use in patients refusing blood transfusion. However, the optimal dose and duration of treatment with rHuEPO are not established. We report a case of a 2-year-old boy with diarrhea-associated HUS whose family members are Jehovah's Witnesses. He had severe anemia with acute kidney injury. His lowest hemoglobin level was 3.6 g/dL, but his parents refused treatment with packed RBC transfusion due to their religious beliefs. Therefore, we treated him with high-dose rHuEPO (300 IU/kg/day) as well as folic acid, vitamin B12, and intravenous iron. The hemoglobin level increased steadily to 7.4 g/dL after 10 days of treatment and his renal function improved without any complications. To our knowledge, this is the first case of successful rHuEPO treatment in a Jehovah's Witness child with severe anemia due to HUS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.537-539
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• 1997

An orthotopic cardiac transplantation was successfully performed in a 40 year-old Jehovah's witness without use of any blood product. Preoperatively, the patient had been on coumadin to prevent left atrial thrombi and the INR(Internation Normalized Ratio)of prothrombin titre was 2.4. During the operation, cell saver was used for shed blood and aprotinin was admini tered intravenously for platelet function. Total postoperative drainage was 860cc and the lowest hemoglobin was 12.2 gmldl. Postoperative course was complicated by central nervous system infection by wisteria monocytogenes and two episodes of rejection, both of which were effectively treated. The patient is on his 5th postoperative month and doing well.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.721-724
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• 2010

Despite increased interest in bloodless cardiac surgery, its use has been mostly confined to adult patients. Especially, bloodless pediatric cardiovascular surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass has been avoided mainly due to hemodilution. Authors recently experienced a case of bloodless cardiac surgery in a 2.8 kg-weighing neonate whose parents were Jehovah's Witness.