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Managing your blood

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Patients and visitors

Managing your blood before and after surgery

Managing a patient's blood before and after surgery is important because good patient blood management means

  • the need for blood transfusion is reduced or avoided
  • fewer complications
  • faster recoveries
  • shorter stays in hospital.

As part of your assessment before your surgery, your doctor will ask you to have a blood test. If this shows that you are anaemic or low in iron levels then you will be referred to our Waikato DHB Patient Blood Management service.

  • We will contact you to organise either oral iron or an iron infusion either at the hospital or at your GP practice. 
  • This will help to optimise your iron levels before surgery, helping to reduce the need for a blood transfusion. 

Iron Deficient Anaemia (IDA) is the most common type of anaemia and occurs when the iron mineral is too low in your body. Your body uses iron to make haemoglobin which helps carry oxygen around the body, maintains a healthy immune system to fight infections and gives you energy.
Anaemia symptoms include feeling tired, irritable, feel cold, being unable to concentrate or getting frequent infections.

If you are anaemic before your surgery, Patient Blood Management will help to boost your iron levels before your surgery or procedure.

Your healthcare professional should explain transfusion risks, benefits and any alternatives that are available to you.
Before your surgical or medical treatments, you may wish to ask questions such as:

For your GP/doctor or nurse

  • Am I anaemic or is my iron level low?
  • If so, how can my iron level be improved before my treatment?
  • Are there any medications, herbal or vitamin supplements I should stop or start taking before my treatment?
  • Is there anything I can change in my diet so I can be healthier to support my recovery?

For your surgeon or anaesthetist

  • Will I need a blood transfusion with my planned surgery/treatment?
  • What are the risks involved with a blood transfusion?
  • What options are available for me to avoid a transfusion?
  • What if I don’t want to receive any blood transfusion?

 

Patient blood management is based on three principles:

Optimise your blood before treatment
This includes identifying and treating anaemia in advance of you having your planned surgery or medical treatment. Anaemia is the when there is a shortage of red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body.

Reduce blood loss during your planned surgery or treatment
This includes minimising phlebotomy/blood tests before surgery and by using modern techniques to help reduce bleeding during your planned surgery.

Manage anaemia
Your body has a natural ability to adapt to a lower haemoglobin level (the molecule responsible for carrying oxygen inside red blood cells around your body) due to blood lost during surgery without always resorting to a blood transfusion. Sometimes you will be given iron tablets or intravenous iron to help increase your haemoglobin levels instead.

  • If a blood transfusion is needed, then patient blood management means the transfusion is safe and patients are given only what they need. 
  • Your healthcare professional should explain transfusion risks, benefits and any alternatives that are available to you. Feel free to ask if you have any questions or concerns.
  • We have clear processes for patients who, for religious or other reasons, refuse blood transfusions. Please let us know as soon as possible, so we can discuss options with you.