This overview is a sample of the type of information available to you at Griffin Hospital's Community Health Resource Center. It is not intended to replace your physician's instructions in the management of your health problems, but to better inform you about a particular illness and alert you to the availability of other materials. If you have a question about any piece of information presented in theses fact sheets, please call your physician, or stop by the Community Health Resource Center at your convenience.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION
A blood transfusion is a procedure in which whole blood or one of its parts is put into the body to replace blood that has been lost or is unhealthy. The average amount of blood given during a transfusion is 3.5 units. A unit is approximately one pint.
In the United States, three to four million people receive transfusions annually. Two-thirds are surgical patients. If you are scheduled for surgery, ask your physician if you are likely to need a transfusion. In order to avoid possible complications from receiving a donor's blood, you can store your own blood for up to 42 days before surgery.
When you receive blood from a donor with the same type of blood as yours, it is called a homologous transfusion. There are four human blood types: A, B, AB, and O. You can be given only your own blood type or type O, Rh negative, a type of blood that most people's bodies will accept without a bad reaction.
Some people have red blood cells that contain a substance called the RH factor. If you have this, you are called Rh-positive, and if you do not, your are Rh-negative. Your Rh factor must match that of donated blood. After it is determined that your blood type and Rh factor are the same as a donor's blood, samples of your blood and the donor's blood are mixed together to insure that they are compatible.
An autologous transfusion is one in which you are given your own blood that has been previously stored. This is the safest mode of transfusion and the easiest for the body to accept. Even if you have an infection, you cannot reinfect yourself through your own blood. People are not encouraged to store their own blood for use in case of an emergency since an accident or unforeseen medical problem could occur at some distanct time. But you may want to store your own blood for a scheduled surgical procedure, so ask your doctor if a transfusion may be needed. Another procedure that uses your own blood is called Perioperative Blood Salvage or Intraoperative Autologous Transfusion. During the operation, the doctor saves the blood from the surgical wound. The blood is washed and filtered and returned to the body. This procedure is often used for open heart surgery, an operation that requires a large amount of blood to be transfused. It is also now used during some orthopedic procedures, organ transplants, and certain trauma cases.
During a transfusion you may be given whole blood or one or more of its parts. Whole blood is given when there has been massive blood loss, such as a major trauma. If your blood is low in red blood cells and its other parts are fine, you may be transfused with only these cells. Clotting disorders and burns can be treated with fresh frozen plasma. To control bleeding caused by prolonged surgery or other conditions, blood platelets can be infused. Platelets are also given for leukemia and low platelet count caused by radiation or chemotherapy.
Scientists are trying to develop artificial blood. So far they have developed a fluid that can carry oxygen but cannot perform the other essential functions of blood.
HOW IS IT DONE?
If a transfusion is necessary and you are awake, the nurse or doctor will explain the procedure to you. A needle will be inserted into one of your large veins. After your vital signs are taken, two people will check and recheck to make sure your blood and the donor's blood are matched
The blood will flow from a tube that filters out clots and other particles before it enters your body. For the first 15 minutes, the blood will enter your body very slowly, and the nurse will watch you to make sure you show no bad reactions. If all is going well, the flow will be increased unless you are a heart patient, in which case it will remain slow to avoid overloading the circulatory system.
If you have a bad reaction to the blood, the transfusion will be stopped immediately. Some of your blood will be drawn to recheck the type and a urine sample will be taken for analysis.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Complications from transfusions are declining steadily because of extensive donor screening and sensitive testing measures. Potential donors are given questionnaires to determine possible risk factors. A person cannot donate blood if:
People are asked if they have certain infectious diseases that are known to be spread through the blood, such as syphilis, Hepatitis C, or HIV (AIDS). A test for Hepatitis C is now available. There are also several accurate tests for HIV infection (AIDS). Because of these tests, the odds of getting the HIV virus from a blood transfusion are less than 1 in 150,000.
There are also other risks to receiving blood transfusions. Bacteria or other substances in the donated blood can cause fevers. Plasma protein in donated blood can prompt allergic reactions in some people. If the donor has an allergy, antibodies to the allergy can be passed along and affect the patient's immune system, so allergic people should not donate blood. If donated blood is not compatible, it can break down the red blood cells and release substances that are toxic to the kidneys. There are risks in most medical treatments and procdures. Recent studies have indicated that patients who receive transfusions of donated blood have worse outcomes after surgery than those who receive autologous transfusions or no transfusions. If you have a choice, it would be wise to avoid a transfusion with donated blood. However, transfusions have saved many lives and can sometimes be essential to the recovery of your health.
Please note that this information is intended to give you a general overview of the topic. It is not intended to replace advice or instruction of a health professional. We recommend that you consult your physician, nurse, or qualified health professional regarding the information in this publication. © 1994 Planetree, Inc. Reproduction of this material in any form is limited to license agreement.
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