Norbert Doyle

Norbert Doyle's surgery turned out to be more complicated than anyone had anticipated. The surgeon expected to repair an aortic aneurysm. Norbert also had a rare condition, a singular horseshoe kidney that needed to be separated and his renal artery re-implanted. The one operation had become three. Nevertheless, Norbert went through this long and complex procedure receiving only his own blood.

Patients can be blood donors, too. In the weeks before his surgery, Norbert discussed his transfusion options with his surgeon. He decided to preoperatively donate two units of his own blood to have on hand in case it was needed. During surgery, a Haemonetics Cell Saver® system collected the blood he lost, washed it, and returned his own red blood cells to be reinfused into his body.

Surgical blood salvage, also known as autotransfusion, involves the rapid and safe collection of a patient's own blood before, during and after surgery for reinfusion to the same patient. The need for a blood transfusion during surgery generally rises when approximately two or three units of blood are lost.

Norbert's surgeon had informed him of the various risks of transfusions and his transfusion options. Transfusions of donor blood carry certain exposure risks - including a chance of infection with hepatitis or HIV or a transfusion reaction. Norbert chose autotransfusion. "I know that the best blood is my own." Norbert explained. And with Haemonetics' technology, his blood was easily washed and recycled. The surgical cell salvage process was so efficient that Norbert only needed one of the units that he had donated preoperatively.

Norbert had a good surgeon, a successful operation, a transfusion of his own blood and no further complications. He went home after six days and his rapid and smooth recovery continues.