Tampa, Fla.-based Physicians Partners of America offers bloodless spine surgery through its minimally invasive spine group.
Here's what you should know:
1. The bloodless procedure uses a special machine to recycle the body's own blood if needed. The recycling reduces the risks associated with banked blood.
2. The procedures are performed in outpatient surgery centers, and patients return home the same day.
3. PPA adopted the surgeries to offer Jehovah's Witnesses surgical options. The religious group pioneered the procedures because of their religious beliefs.
4. PPA Minimally Invasive Spine Group Director James St. Louis, MD, said, "I've done more than 8,000 surgeries and have never given a blood transfusion. There are dramatically fewer complications with bloodless surgery."