Transfusion-free medicine and surgery
The Penn Medicine Center for Transfusion-Free Medicine has been at the forefront of bloodless medicine and surgery for more than 25 years. We’re nationally recognized for our innovative approach to blood transfusion alternatives.
What is bloodless medicine?
Bloodless medicine refers to medical care that doesn’t use blood transfusions or blood products (red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma). There are many religious, personal, medical, and ethical reasons that people may choose to decline blood or blood products.
About the Center for Transfusion-Free Medicine
Since 1996, Penn Medicine has been a national leader in bloodless medicine. We were the site of the world’s first bloodless stem cell transplant more than 15 years ago and continue to innovate by providing our patients with the most bloodless medicine and surgery options in the region.
Advantages of bloodless medicine for patients and providers
Blood-conservation techniques improve the management of a patient's blood and reduce strain and costs on regional and national blood supplies.
People who choose bloodless surgery often experience positive outcomes through:
- Faster healing and recovery
- Fewer reactions from stored blood
- Lower chance of infections
- No chance of receiving the wrong blood in error
Hospitals and health-care organizations benefit from reduced:
- Blood storage-related issues
- Costs related to maintaining blood inventory
- Demand for blood and blood products
- Risk of blood transfusion errors
Keeping you safe with blood transfusion alternatives
At Penn Medicine, we use a variety of blood management techniques and blood transfusion alternatives to keep you safe. You can rely on respectful, high-quality care designed around your medical needs and personal preferences.
Services for international patients
Personalized transfusion-free care at Penn Medicine
We provide counseling and education about blood products and alternatives to determine what products you will accept. Then we ensure your wishes are known to the entire care team.
Comprehensive care
We offer bloodless medicine across nearly all medical specialties, including hematology, oncology, cardiovascular surgery, and orthopedic surgery.
Extensive experience
As a high-volume bloodless medicine center, we treat more than 1,300 patients each year. Studies show that centers performing higher volumes of bloodless surgery and procedures have better patient outcomes.
Multispecialty approach
We incorporate the expertise of world-class surgeons, anesthesiologists, hematologists, nurses, and other health-care providers with specialization in "no blood" medical management.