A Study to Determine the Effectiveness of Epoetin Alfa in Facilitating Self-donation of Blood Before Surgery in Non-anemic Patients Who Are Undergoing Orthopedic, Heart and Blood Vessel, or Breast Reduction Surgery; Performed in Combination With a Procedure to Reduce Blood Loss During Surgery.

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of epoetin alfa and whether epoetin alfa will enable self-donation of blood during an 11-day period before surgery (which is shorter than the conventional 3-week blood donation period before surgery) in patients who are not anemic and who will be undergoing orthopedic, heart and blood vessel, or breast reduction surgery. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production. Normovolemic hemodilution (NVHD, withdrawal of a patient's blood immediately before surgery, immediate replacement of blood with an equal volume of fluid, and return of the withdrawn blood after completion of surgery; a procedure which reduces the loss of blood during surgery) will also be performed.