The Ross operation in a Jehovah's Witness: a paradigm for heart surgery in children without transfusion

Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 Mar;69(3):935-7. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(99)01405-8.

Abstract

A 3-year-old 18 kg male child of the Jehovah's Witness faith presented with severe aortic regurgitation. A successful Ross procedure was performed using a pulmonary autograft, without the use of blood or blood product transfusion. Blood conservation strategy included: (1) preoperative treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin; (2) intraoperative strategies, including technical modifications to the Ross procedure, and the prophylactic use of fibrin glue; (3) utilization of a heparin-bonded cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and assisted venous drainage; and 4) the use of prebypass phlebotomy, cell-saving device and autotransfusion. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 7 with a hemoglobin level of 11.9.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / surgery*
  • Blood Transfusion, Autologous*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Child, Preschool
  • Christianity*
  • Humans
  • Male