Jehovah's witness head and neck free flap reconstruction patient outcomes.
Research article published in American journal of otolaryngology (2022)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a Christian religious denomination that rejects the transfusion of whole blood and component blood products. Given new transfusion-free strategies, Jehovah's Witness patients are undergoing free flap reconstructions with increased regularity. However, outcome data remains limited. With this study, we sought to examine post-operative outcomes in Jehovah's Witness patients undergoing free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, compare their outcomes to non-Jehovah's Witness patients, and enumerate strategies to enhance the safety of transfusion-free surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was carried out on 10 patients who identified as Jehovah's Witness and 63 patients who did not. Demographic information, pre-operative laboratory values, peri-operative resuscitative interventions, and peri-operative outcome measures were compiled. Descriptive data analysis, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square tests, and multivariate analysis were used. RESULTS: Jehovah's Witness patients were significantly older than non-Jehovah's Witness patients (p = 0.03) and had significantly higher ASA scores (p = 0.009). Head and neck cancer was the primary surgical indication in both groups (p = 0.71). Jehovah's witness patients have significantly less intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.011) and lower post-operative hemoglobin (p = 0.002) compared to non-Jehovah's Witness patients. While Jehovah's Witness patients had significantly higher rates of severe anemia (p = 0.014), there was no significant difference between the two groups in other post-operative complications and readmission rates even in a multivariate analysis accounting for age and ASA score. CONCLUSIONS: Free flap microvascular reconstruction can be reliably performed on Jehovah's Witness head and neck patients without an increased risk of complication. Policies such as the use of non-blood volume expanders, albumin, Epogen, perioperative iron supplementation, cell saver and acute normovolemic hemodilution are key to ensuring good outcomes.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a Christian religious denomination that rejects the transfusion of whole blood and component blood products. Given new transfusion-free strategies, Jehovah's Witness patients are undergoing free flap reconstructions with increased regularity.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This retrospective chart review compared postoperative outcomes of head and neck free flap reconstruction in Jehovah's Witness patients versus non-Jehovah's Witness patients, highlighting strategies for transfusion-free surgery. Jehovah's Witness patients had less intraoperative blood loss and lower postoperative hemoglobin, but no significant difference in overall complications. Given that severe anemia and bleeding risks are major concerns in flap surgery, and transfusion-free strategies are paramount for this demographic, the study indirectly touches upon the clinical environments where hirudotherapy might be considered. However, the abstract makes no mention of leeches or hirudotherapy, and strictly focuses on systemic blood conservation techniques.
Citación
Jehovah's witness head and neck free flap reconstruction patient outcomes.
Lin et al. · American journal of otolaryngology, 2022
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 28, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026