Surgery without blood Hospital holds seminar at Schuetzen Park, attracting Jehovah's Witnesses
8 years ago | 47 views | 0 
| 2 
| 
| 
| 2 | |
However, transfusions have never been a viable option for those of the Jehovah's Witness faith, who, as part of their religious beliefs, do not condone the use of foreign blood or blood products in the body. Many Jehovah's Witnesses have had to go without necessary surgeries, forsaking their health and advancements in medicine for their devout religious upbringing.
Ten years ago, Englewood Hospital started to research a process to perform vital surgeries without the use of blood transfusions.
"Scientists had learned over the years that transfusions were not totally necessary and certainly not all they're caught up to be," said Dr. Nate Lebowitz, a cardiologist who has practices out of Englewood Hospital and has an office on Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen. "Unless it's your own blood, perhaps it's not so good for you. And it had nothing to do with the concerns of obtaining the HIV virus or hepatitis. In this day and age, there are many risks involved with transfusions. Perhaps the blood used is old or it is lacking in the immunity agent. With that in mind, scientists were realizing that a patient might very well be better off without transfusions."
Under the guidance of Dr. Aryeh Sander, the executive medical director, the hospital developed the New Jersey Institute for the Advancement of Bloodless Medicine and Surgery. Since 1994, surgeons at the hospital have performed 95 percent of all surgeries without transfusing blood.
Englewood's program was the first government-recognized project in bloodless medicine in the nation and has become a learning center for other hospitals wishing to adopt the procedures.
Recently, the hospital has expanded its bloodless method to include open-heart and joint replacement surgery. Currently, 10 percent of the nation's entire donated blood supply is used for cardiac surgery.
"We're realizing that there are other ways to perform open-heart surgery," Lebowitz said.
Two years ago, the hospital, the only one in the tri-state area, received a license from the state to begin performing bloodless open-heart surgeries. The first bloodless open-heart surgery took place at the hospital last July and since that time, nearly 150 cases have been done with no complications to date.
"The state will review us after two years," Lebowitz said. "And in that time, we have to do 500 cases. If we do, then we get to keep the license. Right now, we're ahead of schedule."
As part of the application process to receive permanent status, the hospital has to bring the idea to the community in the form of demonstrations and seminars.
Last Saturday, Lebowitz and a few of his medical colleagues were featured speakers at an informational seminar held at Schuetzen Park in North Bergen. The seminar was given with Jehovah Witnesses in mind, but the intention was also to open the door to bloodless surgery for anyone in the community.
"We've never had a meeting strictly for the Witnesses," said Sherri Ozawa, the director of the program. "It's educational for all. Of course, the majority of our patients are Witnesses, but we're hoping to expand to include everyone."
With a strong population of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hudson County, especially in Jersey City and North Bergen, it was important to hold the seminar in the area. Ozawa said that the hospital holds the informational seminars about six times a year, with two in North Bergen.
Last Saturday's seminar brought a turnout of approximately 500 people who were interested in learning more about the advances made in bloodless surgeries.
Dr. David Feldman, an orthopedic surgeon who has an office in Fort Lee, spoke about the major strides made in bloodless joint replacements, and especially in knee and hip replacements.
"Total joint replacement surgeries are usually very bloody surgeries, some taking as many as four pints of blood to complete," Feldman said. "We're able to do it now by working with the patients before surgery, making the patients act as their own blood bank. We give them iron vitamins, so the production of red blood cells is cranked up, so by the time they come into surgery, they have a higher blood count and don't need the transfusions. We are also able to segregate the red blood cells from the rest of the cells. We also identify the bleeding vessels and control the bleeding. We have to work fast, but we're able to do so.
Feldman added, "I think this is something that should be done for all patients, not just those who are Jehovah's Witnesses. If we know a way to do surgery without transfusions, then why would you want to have it any other way? I think the general public would benefit greatly from looking into the possibilities. It is a viable option for everyone."
The seminar also featured several patient experiences and a question and answer session. Patients were given doctor referrals and several people were able to receive medical screenings.
"I think it went very well," Ozawa said. "I think people are beginning to understand the alternatives that we can offer. There are a lot of people who don't know much about the institute and some people who have heard something and want to learn more. We generally get a lot of support from Hudson County, so that's why we make the effort to come here."
North Bergen resident Joan DeFrancisco is a Jehovah's Witness who has been treated for Hodgkin's disease, but it is now in remission. She attended the seminar to learn more about the options offered.
"I have more information now and I'm always looking to gain more, because you never know when you might need it," DeFrancesco said. "You have to be prepared, in case of an emergency. You don't take things to chance. I know people over the years who were not Witnesses who were interested in this approach and are considering it."
Wilma Vogel, also a North Bergen Jehovah's Witness, had bloodless surgery done at the hospital in 1997.
"I don't think people realize that there is an alternative," Vogel said. "We all want good health care and proper medical attention, regardless of our faiths. With this seminar, I have a clearer understanding and know just how progressive they are with their treatment. It was more explicit and complete. I've had neighbors who have gone to Englewood Hospital and they're doing it even though they are not Witnesses."
Lebowitz was also impressed with the seminar.
"We want to continue to get the message out," Lebowitz said. "We're all changing our way of practicing medicine, not simply because of people who happen to be Jehovah's Witnesses, but because its safer and healthier."
For more information about the New Jersey Institute for the Advancement of Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at Englewood Hospital, call 1-888-7-NO-BLOOD or log on to www.englewoodhospital.com.
post a comment
comments (0)
no comments yet