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PROCRIT |
Blood
Loss. Although the
surgeon uses several standard techniques to control the amount
of bleeding resulting from the surgical procedure, a certain
amount of blood loss occurs with every case. Blood is made
up of cells and the fluid that contains the cells. When you
lose blood, there are fewer cells, and your hematocrit goes
down. Red blood cells carry a substance called hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin, which binds to iron, carries oxygen from the lungs
to tissues. So if you experience blood loss, you may also
have a decrease in your hemoglobin.
Why
is this important? Your body needs to maintain
a certain level of oxygen within its tissues to function properly.
Fatigue is a primary symptom of below-normal hemoglobin which
may impact on your recovery after surgery. Other possible
symptoms include weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
This is obviously not desirable when you are trying to recover
from a major surgery like total knee or hip replacement.
What
Can Be Done? There are three standard approaches
to managing blood loss - 1) receive blood that you have donated
prior to your surgery, 2) receive blood from a donor, or 3)
undergo PROCRIT therapy.
Blood
Transfusion. You can receive a transfusion with
your own blood (self donation) or with blood that has been
donated by someone else.
DONATING
YOUR OWN BLOOD
Donating
your own blood (autodonation) refers to the collection of
your blood before surgery for use during or after surgery.
Using your blood decreases the chance of receiving donated
blood, thus preventing exposure to infectious disease and
transfusion reaction.
Patients
are usually asked to donate one or more units of their blood
over a period of time before their surgery. The amount of
blood collected depends on the operation you are having, as
well as your ability to donate. However, when you donate blood,
your own red blood cell count (hemoglobin level) drops, so
you are actually giving blood you need. Because it takes time
for your body to replace the blood donated, you may not be
able to donate your own blood if:
- Your
surgery is within 2 weeks. Your body needs time to replace
the red blood cells that you would have donated
-
You have other illnesses (i.e., infections, certain cardiac
conditions, or seizures that might weaken your body)
- Your
blood pressure is abnormal
- You
are anemic
Be
sure to discuss this with your doctor.
RECEIVING
BLOOD FROM A DONOR
Blood
from a donor means that the blood you will receive has come
from the national blood supply, which has never been safer.
However, risks still exist from receiving donated blood, such
as the transmission of disease and infection, or an allergic
reaction. Be assured, all donated blood is screened, based
on the donor’s lifestyle and medical history, as well as for
several diseases, including AIDS (HIV) and hepatitis.
Donated
blood is also tested for compatibility. Each person has one
of the four blood types: A, B, AB, or O. When you receive
a transfusion, the donor’s blood you type is “matched” to
your blood type. This reduces the possibility of your body
rejecting or reacting to the transfusion.
Patients
who receive donated blood have a longer hospital stay than
patients who do not, independent of other factors.
BUILDING
YOUR OWN RED BLOOD CELLS
Procrit®
(Epoetin alfa)1 is a medication used in anemic
patients undergoing elective surgery. It is a natural substance
identical to one your body produces and helps stimulate your
body’s ability to produce red blood cells. By increasing the
red blood cell supply before surgery, the hemoglobin level
is increased and remains higher during and after surgery.
When
PROCRIT is given before surgery, patients produce additional
red blood cells and have a significant increase in hemoglobin
by day of surgery. Medical studies show that patients who
use PROCRIT require fewer transfusion than patients who do
not. Essentially, they are able to build the red blood cells
within their bodies and even after surgery have higher hemoglobin
than patients receiving placebo.
PROCRIT
is used for elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery with
a likelihood of significant blood loss. Your Hb level must
be greater than 10 but less than or equal to 13 g/dL before
you start PROCRIT therapy. PROCRIT is not indicated for anemic
patients who are willing to give their own blood.
Are
There Any Side Effects to PROCRIT?
Most
patients taking PROCRIT do not experience any problems. In
medical studies, a few patients experienced some type of thrombotic/vascular
event (for example, blood clots) after surgery. These are
common in major surgery and occurred both in patients on PROCRIT
and in those not receiving PROCRIT in the recommended population
of patients with Hb 10-13 g/dL. Patients in these studies
were given medications to lessen the chance of developing
blood clots. Some patients on PROCRIT also had fever, nausea,
and/or constipation. These are common side effects in patients
who have had major surgery or take iron supplements. For more
information, please visit the PROCRIT (www.procrit.com)
website.
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Why is this important? Your body needs to maintain a certain level of oxygen within its tissues to function properly. Fatigue is a primary symptom of below-normal hemoglobin which may impact on your recovery after surgery. Other possible symptoms include weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. This is obviously not desirable when you are trying to recover from a major surgery like total knee or hip replacement. What Can Be Done? There are three standard approaches to managing blood loss - 1) receive blood that you have donated prior to your surgery, 2) receive blood from a donor, or 3) undergo PROCRIT therapy. Blood Transfusion. You can receive a transfusion with your own blood (self donation) or with blood that has been donated by someone else. DONATING YOUR OWN BLOOD Donating your own blood (autodonation) refers to the collection of your blood before surgery for use during or after surgery. Using your blood decreases the chance of receiving donated blood, thus preventing exposure to infectious disease and transfusion reaction. Patients are usually asked to donate one or more units of their blood over a period of time before their surgery. The amount of blood collected depends on the operation you are having, as well as your ability to donate. However, when you donate blood, your own red blood cell count (hemoglobin level) drops, so you are actually giving blood you need. Because it takes time for your body to replace the blood donated, you may not be able to donate your own blood if:
Be
sure to discuss this with your doctor. RECEIVING BLOOD FROM A DONOR Blood from a donor means that the blood you will receive has come from the national blood supply, which has never been safer. However, risks still exist from receiving donated blood, such as the transmission of disease and infection, or an allergic reaction. Be assured, all donated blood is screened, based on the donor’s lifestyle and medical history, as well as for several diseases, including AIDS (HIV) and hepatitis. Donated blood is also tested for compatibility. Each person has one of the four blood types: A, B, AB, or O. When you receive a transfusion, the donor’s blood you type is “matched” to your blood type. This reduces the possibility of your body rejecting or reacting to the transfusion. Patients who receive donated blood have a longer hospital stay than patients who do not, independent of other factors. BUILDING YOUR OWN RED BLOOD CELLS Procrit® (Epoetin alfa)1 is a medication used in anemic patients undergoing elective surgery. It is a natural substance identical to one your body produces and helps stimulate your body’s ability to produce red blood cells. By increasing the red blood cell supply before surgery, the hemoglobin level is increased and remains higher during and after surgery. When PROCRIT is given before surgery, patients produce additional red blood cells and have a significant increase in hemoglobin by day of surgery. Medical studies show that patients who use PROCRIT require fewer transfusion than patients who do not. Essentially, they are able to build the red blood cells within their bodies and even after surgery have higher hemoglobin than patients receiving placebo. PROCRIT is used for elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery with a likelihood of significant blood loss. Your Hb level must be greater than 10 but less than or equal to 13 g/dL before you start PROCRIT therapy. PROCRIT is not indicated for anemic patients who are willing to give their own blood. Are There Any Side Effects to PROCRIT? Most patients taking PROCRIT do not experience any problems. In medical studies, a few patients experienced some type of thrombotic/vascular event (for example, blood clots) after surgery. These are common in major surgery and occurred both in patients on PROCRIT and in those not receiving PROCRIT in the recommended population of patients with Hb 10-13 g/dL. Patients in these studies were given medications to lessen the chance of developing blood clots. Some patients on PROCRIT also had fever, nausea, and/or constipation. These are common side effects in patients who have had major surgery or take iron supplements. For more information, please visit the PROCRIT (www.procrit.com) website. |