Bangalore, Karnataka -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/26/2012 -- Jack Jones, 74, of the US went through a beating heart surgery at Narayana Hrudayalaya on December 29, perhaps the first US citizen to undergo such a surgery in India. As a Jehovah's Witness, his faith bars him from have a blood transfusion.

While Jones is recovering post-operation in December according to his wife Estrelle, doctors of Narayana Hrudayalaya believe that bloodless surgery is the way ahead.

While it's a religious matter for the Jehovah's Witness community, bloodless surgery has its own advantages, points out Dr Praveen Kumar of Narayana Hrudayalaya. "Firstly, there's a cost advantage given that there's significant expenditure involved in testing blood of donors. Secondly, it diminishes the possibility of infection that occur during transfusion," said Dr Praveen.

But the challenges are immense. "While operating, we use heparin, a medication that prevents blood clotting. And during the surgery, we have to be immensely watchful of the patient losing blood," explained Dr Praveen.

Dr Sharad Damodar, who was in the surgical team, said they sometimes collect the patients blood, which can be reused. "But Jehovah's Witnesses believe their own blood can't be transfused back into their bodies. As per their law, if the patient suffers due to lack of blood, doctors will simply have to let the patient go," explained Dr Damodar.

Meanwhile, Jones and his wife Estrelle are pleased with their choice of coming to Bangalore for the surgery. "While there are hospitals back home in the US which perform such surgery, our doctor in the US recommended Narayana Hrudayalaya," Estrelle said.