Jehovah’s Witnesses and Transfusion in OB/Peds: A Hematologist’s Perspective

Presented by: Dr. Lynn Boshkov, MDProf of Pathology, Medicine & PediatricsDirector Hemostasis & ThrombosisAssoc. Director Transfusion MedicineOregon Health & Science University, Portland, ORVoice: 503-494-7610 e-mail: boshkovl@ohsu.edu

At: OB / Peds Grand Rounds, Tuality Healthcare Hillsboro, OR July 8, 2011

Revised version: CNM Grand Rounds, OHSU, Tues March 10, 2015, 07:30-08:30

Disclosures: None

Jehovah’s Witness Patients:

• General principles to follow in working with JW patients

• What’s Acceptable?

• The Pediatric Patient of JW Parents

• How Low Can You Go?

• Cases Illustrating Options in the Adult Ob Gyn Setting

Jehovah’s Witness Patients: GeneralSuggestions for Health Care Providers

• Work in partnership with the patient & JW community; act as patient’s advocate.

• Know & explore the acceptability of the full range of non-blood therapeutic options with the patient--and use them!!

• Act pre-emptively if possible

• Realize physiological tolerance of anemia is generally greater than you may think

Jehovah’s Witnesses: What’s Acceptable?

• Religious objection to the use of many blood products

• Acceptability of blood products: Unacceptable: Whole blood and its primary components: RBCs, platelets, plasma, WBCs Possibly acceptable (individual conscience): Plasma derivatives: cryo- precipitate, albumin, fibrin glue, factor concentrates, IVIG, (Hb-based O2 carriers)

Whole Blood 450 ml

spin

Plasma (~250 ml)

PlateletsWBCs

RBCs (~200 ml)

Primary Components

UNACCEPTABLE

MAY be acceptable: “MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE”

“fractions”

Hb-based O2 carriers (experimental)

Plasma derivatives

Plasma Derivatives = “Matters of Conscience”

Plasma ~250 ml, 4o C

Plasma pools

spin Cryoprecipitate ~10 ml

(~1/2 the VWF, FVIII and fibrinogen in original plasma)

Albumin

Clotting ProteinsEx. Prothrombin ComplexConcentrates =PCCs=Factors II, VII,IX, XEx. FVIII, FIX-from plasma

IVIG; RhIgMany others

+ thrombin

Fibrin glue

Physical and/orchemical separation (s)

2000 - 20,000 donors

• Acceptability of transfusion -sparing interventions:

• Unacceptable: Autologous predonation• Conditionally acceptable (with certain

devices/techniques only--blood must remain in unbroken circuit with body) : Isovolemic hemodilution, some perioperative salvage devices

• Almost always acceptable: Epo• Always acceptable (no issues): darbe

(albumin free), G-CSF, TPO-mimetics, ddAVP, antifibrinolytics, recombinant factors, rVIIa

“Tips” on explaining “fractions” and transfusion alternatives :

• Ask if the patient has an “Advance Directive”— there is a special section of this dealing with “fractions”

• Use a special “Refusal Form” to help guide discussion between you and the patient (OHSU = possible prototype)

• Usually if one “fraction” is acceptable, all are

• Erythropoietin = “matter of conscience” (stabilized

with traces of albumin); darbepoietin = no issues (albumin free)

“Tips” on explaining “fractions” and transfusion 2 alternatives :

It may be helpful to emphasize:• Plasma’s role as a general carrier (sugars, waste

products, clotting factors, etc)• The fact that clotting proteins are made in the

liver and traffic normally across the placenta whereas cellular blood elements (RBCs, platelets, WBCs ) are made in the bone marrow and don’t

• That although neither platelets nor plasma are acceptable to Witnesses that:• cryoprecipitate can help platelets work better• PCC s + cryo can supply many clotting factors (every factor in clotting cascade except V and XI)

• fibrin glue can help make local clots• albumin can help blood stay in the vessels

Additional Management “Tips”:

• The “fractions”/transfusion alternatives discussion is useful and should be done:

• I have seen all named fractions contribute to saving lives

• The therapeutic relationship is served

• Don’t be shy about asking for advice elsewhere— call me, call Dr David Rozencrantz at Legacy

• Ask if the patient has a specially trained Hospital Liaison Elder working with them—these individuals are often knowledgeable and compassionate and can help both the patient and the treating MD

OHSU BLOOD REFUSAL FORM

Transfusion of Minors poses medical legal issues BUT…Court Orders are NOT often necessary at OHSU:

Re: Care of the Child of JW Parents re: Blood Refusal:

The same principles apply as before….

1. Work in partnership with the patient & JW community; act as patient’s advocate—Hospital Liaison Elder involvement in the case and with the treating MD is very reassuring to the family

2. Know & explore the acceptability of the full range of “matters of conscience” and non-blood therapeutic options with the patient and the family--and use them!! ex. cryoppt vs platelet txn in severe thrombocytopenia; romiplostim to increase platelet counts

3. Act pre-emptively if possible ex. IV iron and epo to treat anemia pre-op in patients coming to major surgery—and accelerate Hb recovery post-op (Note: darbe not approved in peds)

ex. Iron, epo, folate, B12, Vit K routinely as appropriate

Note: Pre-op epo: 300-500 U/kg /wk—takes 2-3 weeks to get meaningful increase in Hb Post-op epo: 300-500 U/kg/d SQ--works less well due to antagonism by inflammatory mediators

4. Realize physiological tolerance of anemia is generally greater than you may think

Ref: LaCrox J et al Transfusion strategies for patients in pediatric ICUs NEJM 2007; 356: 1609-1619—

Hbs 7-9 vs 10-12 usually OK in peds

5. Make the family aware of the legal obligation of the MD to transfuse a minor to prevent death or serious harm.

Note: If the family has truly seen you work to avoid transfusion of their child; and if you have worked with a JW Liaison elder; and if you have communicated clearly with them why you think the situation has become life threatening; and if you have avoided getting a court order for the now-necessary transfusion—or worked to get the court order limited to transfusion only—then you have done all you could—and they know it and are often grateful to you—esp after the emotionally charged moment of the transfusion has passed

Note: I often sit with the family during the transfusion and talk with them and the patient; I give sedatives as appropriate and cover the blood bag with a pillowcase and the IV tubing with foil

For a fuller discussion of “Care of the Child Refusing Blood Products” see Chapt 449 in Textbook of Pediatrics, 2nd ed, 2012

OK, now back to adults and anemia tolerance……..

Hb/ Hct: How Low Can You Go?

• Normal Hb: ~12-16 g/dl; Hct ~36-56

• Response to anemia: • Cardiac: HR, coronary vasodilatation,

as decompensate: shift to anaerobic metab; blood from subendo epicardium

• Peripheral tissues: blood flow thru vascular beds; O2 extraction (if possible); recruit more capillaries

• RBC 2,3 DPG: facilitates off-loading O2 to tissues

• Animal studies: lower limit tolerance:• Normal CV system: Hb ~3-5 g/dl• Coronary stenosis: Hb ~7-10 g/dl

• Human perisurgical morbidity/mortality:Post-Op Hb 30d in hospital mortality

Normal CV disease30d morbidity/mortalityNormal CV disease

1.1-2.0 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %

2.1-3.0 52.6 % 60 % 88.9 % 100 %

3.1-4.0 10.0 % 62.5 % 42.9 % 80.0 %

4.4-5.0 20.0 % 58.3 % 50.0 % 75.0 %

5.1-6.0 7.5 % 14.3 % 23.5 % 40.0 %

6.1-7.0 11.4 % 0 % 22.5 % 20.0 %

7.1-8.0 0 % 0 % 9.8 % 7.1 % From: Carson JL, Transfusion, 2002, 48: 812-18

Tolerance to anemia is determined by multiple factors including:

· Chronicity of development · Underlying cardiovascular status · Age· O2 demands

One size does not necessarily fit all…

And now on to some Ob/Gyn patient cases….