Unlike sudden accidents, many surgeries are planned in advance. This allows hospitals to anticipate potential blood needs and prepare accordingly.

Pre‑operative assessment

Before major surgery, doctors will:

·       Review your medical history and current medications.

·       Check your hemoglobin and possibly platelet counts and clotting tests.

·       Identify your blood group (ABO and Rh).

·       Assess other risk factors (age, heart or lung disease, previous bleeding problems).

If anemia is identified early, they may:

·       Treat it with iron, vitamins or other medicines before surgery, reducing the chance that you will need transfusion afterwards.

Planning blood availability

For surgeries where blood loss is likely (e.g., major abdominal surgery, orthopedics, cardiac surgery):

·       The surgical team estimates how much blood may be needed.

·       The blood bank ensures that compatible units are available on the day (“group and hold” or “cross‑match and reserve”).

·       In some cases, special blood products (platelets, plasma) are also prepared in advance.

If you belong to a rare blood group or have unusual antibodies, extra planning is needed:

·       Blood banks may contact regional centres or rare donor registries.

·       The surgery may be scheduled at a larger hospital where appropriate blood is more likely to be available.

Blood‑sparing strategies

Modern medicine also tries to reduce the need for transfusions during surgery by:

·       Using meticulous surgical techniques to minimize blood loss.

·       Using medications that help clotting.

·       In some centres, using cell salvage machines that collect, clean and return the patient’s own blood lost during surgery.

Even with these strategies, transfusions are sometimes still needed. When they are, the fact that blood has been prepared in advance improves safety and reduces delays.

Communication with patients

Before surgery, doctors should explain:

·       The risk of blood loss and the possibility of needing transfusion.

·       What measures will be taken to reduce that risk.

·       What will happen if a transfusion is needed during or after surgery.

This helps patients make informed decisions and reduces fear on the day of surgery.