Not medical advice. This site explains published sources; decisions about your care belong with you and your care team. How we write
Questions to ask

Questions to ask your
surgeon and hospital

A short list to take to your appointments. Print it, add your own, and bring someone with you if you can.

Questions for your surgeon
Cited sources Sources checked Nov 7, 2026 Not yet clinician-reviewed
Your surgeon and anesthesiologist

About your operation

  1. Can my blood count and iron levels be checked now, before surgery is scheduled?
  2. If I'm anemic, what treatment do you suggest, and how far ahead does it need to start?
  3. What blood loss do you expect in this operation, and what will you do to reduce it?
  4. Is a minimally invasive approach possible for me?
  5. Will you use tranexamic acid or other medicines to reduce bleeding?
  6. Is cell salvage suitable for this operation, and how is the equipment set up?
  7. What hemoglobin level would make you consider a transfusion, and why?
  8. What would you do if I bled more than expected, given my wishes?

Why these matter: guidelines recommend checking for anemia before surgery,[1] reducing blood loss with medicines and cell salvage where suitable,[2, 3] and considering the clinical context and alternatives when deciding on transfusion.[4]

The hospital

About the hospital and your records

  1. Does the hospital have a patient blood management or bloodless medicine program, and how do I contact it?
  2. How will my wishes about blood be recorded, and will everyone on the team see them?
  3. Can the anesthesiologist talk with me before the day of surgery?
  4. How can blood tests after surgery be kept to the minimum needed?
  5. Who do I contact if my plans or my wishes change?

Many hospitals run blood management programs that coordinate this kind of planning.[5, 6] Before a transfusion, a doctor or nurse should explain the procedure, answer your questions and tell you about alternatives; you'll usually be asked to sign a consent form.[7]

Tip: ask early. Treating anemia can take weeks or months,[8] and a program needs time to plan with you.

Need a program?

How to find a patient blood management or bloodless program.

Find a program
Talk to your care team. This page summarizes published research and patient information for general education. It is not medical advice and has not yet been reviewed by a clinician. Your surgeon, anesthesiologist or doctor can tell you what applies to you.
Sources

References

All sources read on Nov 7, 2026. Links go to the publisher, PubMed abstract or official page.

  1. Muñoz M, Acheson AG, et al. International consensus statement on the peri-operative management of anaemia and iron deficiency. Anaesthesia. 2017;72(2):233-247. PMID 27996086. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27996086
  2. Henry DA, et al. Anti-fibrinolytic use for minimising perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(3):CD001886. PMID 21412876. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21412876
  3. Cochrane review. Cell salvage for minimising perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion in adults undergoing elective surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;9:CD001888. PMID 37681564. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37681564
  4. Carson JL, et al. Red Blood Cell Transfusion: 2023 AABB International Guidelines. JAMA. 2023;330(19):1892-1902. PMID 37824153. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37824153
  5. UPMC. Patient Blood Management Program (program page). www.upmc.com/services/patient-blood-management-bloodless-medicine
  6. Englewood Health. Bloodless Medicine and Surgery (program page). www.englewoodhealth.org/service/bloodless-medicine-and-surgery
  7. NHS. Blood transfusion. www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/blood-transfusion
  8. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Iron-Deficiency Anemia. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/iron-deficiency-anemia