McLeod Health is pleased to offer you another option for safe and effective medical treatment through its Blood Conservation Program.

Blood Conservation, also known as Bloodless Medicine, offers an alternative for those who want to limit or completely avoid the use of a blood transfusion in their medical or surgical treatment. The McLeod Blood Conservation program provides individualized options for patients with the goal of increasing the delivery of oxygen in the body by raising the red blood cell production or by minimizing red blood cell loss in the event of surgery. Employing blood conservation strategies has become the "gold standard” in patient care.

Many medical procedures such as heart, knee, stomach, and colon surgeries can be performed without a blood transfusion.

Studies show that treating medical and surgical needs without blood can reduce:

• the length of your hospital stay
• infections occurring after surgery
• the risk of blood-borne acquired diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis, and Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)
• the risk of human error when blood is given

Utilizing blood conservation strategies can also prevent or reduce the incidence of anemia. The presence of anemia can have an adverse affect on your recovery.

These are just a few reasons why choosing an alternative option to blood transfusion may provide you with the best health benefits when you receive medical services at McLeod Regional Medical Center.

To discuss Blood Conservation options, contact our team at
(843) 777-8284.