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Patient Blood Management Frequently Asked Questions

What is patient blood management?

Blood management is the appropriate provision and use of blood and its components and derivatives.

It includes strategies to reduce or avoid the need for a blood transfusion.

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When did patient blood management begin?

For decades, doctors have been meeting the needs of patients who refuse blood transfusions.

Recognizing certain benefits that these patients enjoyed, the field of blood management has developed over the past 10 years.

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Are there benefits to patient blood management?

Blood management is associated with many benefits, such as:

  • preserving the limited resource of donor blood
  • reducing health care costs
  • improving patient safety
  • reducing patients' length of stay in the hospital
  • reducing potential exposure to bloodborne disease
  • reducing the chances of hospital-acquired complications and infections

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What are some blood management strategies?

Strategy Description
Preoperative correction of anemia: A significant number of patients requiring elective surgery have anemia (low blood counts). Determining the cause of the anemia is essential in determining appropriate treatment, which can include the use of nutrition, iron, vitamins, and pharmaceutical agents.
Intraoperative blood cell recovery and reinfusion: Blood lost during surgery can be captured, cleaned, and returned to the patient.
Hemodilution: A specific amount of blood is removed during surgery, replaced with intravenous fluids, and returned to the patient with the goal of reducing — or eliminating — the need for transfusions.
Meticulous surgical techniques, minimally invasive surgery, and electrocautery: The use of smaller incisions and surgical instruments helps reduce surgical blood loss.
Thrombin and adhesives: Human-derived and synthetic products can be used in surgery to support the body’s ability to clot and reduce bleeding.

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Does UPMC practice patient blood management?

Yes. UPMC has a six-point blood management program that is being implemented at each of its system hospitals.

And, UPMC physicians have been at the forefront of physician education in patient blood management.

For further information, call the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery toll-free at 1-877-674-7111.

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