Blood Conservation in a Congenital Cardiac Surgery Program

John, Tracey; Rodeman, Roberta; Colvin, Roslyn

doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2008.02.018

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Volume 87, Issue 6 , Pages 1180-1190, June 2008

Blood Conservation in a Congenital Cardiac Surgery Program

Tracey John, RN, CNOR
- Tracey John, RN, CNOR, is a cardiothoracic OR nurse in the Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. Ms John has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest in publishing this article.
Roberta Rodeman, RN, BSN, CNOR
- Roberta Rodeman, RN, BSN, CNOR, is a cardiothoracic OR nurse in the Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. Ms Rodeman has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest in publishing this article.
Roslyn Colvin, RN, CNOR
- Roslyn Colvin, RN, CNOR, is a cardiothoracic OR specialty leader in the Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. Ms Colvin has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest in publishing this article.

ABSTRACT

BLOODLESS SURGERY PROGRAMS are being instituted because of increasing public concerns about blood transfusions and the need to accommodate some patients' religious beliefs. Patients' desires to forego transfusion must be identified during the preoperative screening process and subsequently reflected on the surgical consent.

PATIENTS ARE MANAGED preoperatively with erythropoietin and dietary supplements. The surgical team employs a variety of intraoperative and postoperative blood conservation techniques to help avoid the need for transfusion.

A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW of congenital cardiac procedures in a blood conservation program confirmed that bloodless cardiac surgery is effective. AORN J 87 (June 2008) 1180-1186. © AORN, Inc, 2008.

indicates that continuing education contact hours are available for this activity. Earn the contact hours by reading this article and taking the examination on pages 1187–1188 and then completing the answer sheet and learner evaluation on pages 1189–1190.You also may access this article online at http://www.aornjournal.org.The behavioral objectives and examination for this program were prepared by Rebecca Holm, RN, MSN, CNOR, clinical editor, with consultation from Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, BC, director, Center for Perioperative Education. Ms Holm and Ms Bakewell have no declared affiliations that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest in publishing this article.This program meets criteria for CNOR and CRNFA recertification, as well as other continuing education requirements.AORN is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.AORN is provider-approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13019. Check with your state board of nursing for acceptance of this activity for relicensure.