Inova Heart and Vascular Institute Improves Quality, Cuts Costs with Blood Conservation

New Protocol Reduces Need for Blood, Improves Outcomes

Falls Church, VA  – (July 13, 2009) – Surgeons and anesthesiologists at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute have implemented an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to reduce blood and blood-product transfusions, improving results and safety while helping to cut costs. The comprehensive blood-conservation protocol also reduces the risk of infection and length of hospital stay.

“The improvements observed in patient outcomes have been remarkable,” said Elmer Choi, MD, medical director, Cardiac Anesthesiology, who helped lead the program. “We have established an outstanding process that is achieving great results through teamwork, out-of-the-box thinking and the adoption of cutting-edge techniques.”

The blood-conservation protocol incorporates the use of withdrawing up to two pints of a patient’s own blood just before a surgical procedure. This blood is kept safely sequestered away from the bypass machine and is not exposed to air or any medication. After surgery, the patient is re-infused with their own blood. The procedure, which reduces time on a mechanical ventilator and reduces the risk of pneumonia, is expected to save the Heart and Vascular Institute more than $5 million annually.

“Under our new protocol, fluctuations in blood supply and risk of allergic reaction play less of a role in the delivery of care,” said Alan Speir, MD, medical director, Cardiac Surgical Services, Inova Health System. “Using a patient’s own blood is the best possible option during a surgical produce because it’s safer, healthier and ultimately more cost-effective.”

Re-infusing a patient’s own blood reduces the costs involved in blood donation because the blood does not have to be drawn, separated into its three components, stored and then transported to a hospital for use. In addition, the constant need for blood and a lack of blood donations can lead to shortages, causing elective surgical procedures to be postponed until enough blood becomes available. Inova leadership adds, though, that blood donation is still critically important.

“While we continue to look for ways to reduce the need for blood, blood donation remains vital to many of the cardiac procedures we perform,” said Patrick Christiansen, PhD, administrator, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. “Blood conservation is another tool helping us manage a critical resource that saves lives everyday. Make no mistake – blood donation is still needed.”

Every day, approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency-treatment facilities nationwide for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.