Major gynecologic and obstetric surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses.

A retrospective study of 165 Jehovah's Witnesses and 164 Jehovah's Witnesses and 164 control patients compared the morbidity and mortality associated with major obstetric and gynecologic surgery in the 2 groups. There were no deaths and few complications in either group. There were few differences in preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin values. Medicolegal implications of performing major surgery without blood transfusions are discussed. The study adds evidence that major operative procedures can be carried out on Jehovah's Witness patients without blood transfusions or blood products.