Blood Transfusion Procedure
Overview
Blood transfusions involve healthcare providers giving donated blood through a thin tube placed in a patient’s vein. This process replaces blood lost during surgery or injury and also helps people whose bodies cannot produce enough healthy blood.
Matching the correct blood type ensures safety and effectiveness. Volunteers supply the blood, and healthcare teams monitor for any mild reactions. Most people experience no major problems during transfusion.
Key Points:
- Main Uses: Replaces lost blood and supports low blood counts.
- Blood Types: Must be matched for safety.
- Blood Supply: Provided by donors.
- Safety: Most reactions are mild and manageable.
Reasons for Getting a Blood Transfusion
People often need blood transfusions when they lose a lot of blood during surgery, after a major injury, or while giving birth. Certain health conditions like cancer, anemia, and leukemia lower the number of healthy blood cells, making transfusions necessary. Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can damage bone marrow, affecting blood production.
People with chronic issues like kidney disease, sickle cell disease, or thalassemia may need regular transfusions to maintain healthy blood counts. Bleeding problems like hemophilia require extra clotting factors found in plasma or platelets. The table below lists some common reasons:
| Condition | Blood Component Needed |
|---|---|
| Surgery | Red cells, platelets |
| Cancer | Red cells, platelets |
| Anemia | Red cells |
| Bone marrow disease | Red cells, platelets |
| Leukemia | Red cells, platelets |
| Chemotherapy | Red cells, platelets |
| Kidney disease | Red cells |
| Sickle cell disease | Red cells |
| Thalassemia | Red cells |
| Radiation | Red cells, platelets |
| Hemophilia | Plasma, platelets |
Hazards and Complications
Transfer-Related Infections
Blood banks carefully test donated blood to lower the chance of passing diseases. Even so, a very small risk of infection remains. These may include:
- HIV and AIDS
- Hepatitis B and C
- Syphilis
- Chagas disease
- West Nile virus
- Bacterial contamination
Health organizations report that these problems are rare due to strict blood screening. Still, transfusions can carry germs if a sample escapes detection.
| Infection | Example Diseases |
|---|---|
| Viral | HIV, Hepatitis B, C, West Nile |
| Bacterial | Sepsis |
| Parasitic | Chagas disease |
| Other | Syphilis |
Severe Immune and Allergic Responses
Other serious problems can occur, though they do not happen often. Some possible reactions are:
- Allergic Responses: These can cause symptoms like hives or itching, even when the blood type is correct.
- Febrile Reactions: Patients might get a fever or chills.
- Hemolytic Reactions: In these cases, the patient’s immune system attacks the new red blood cells. This can be fast (acute) or happen more slowly (delayed), possibly leading to kidney damage.
- Graft-versus-Host Disease: Sometimes, the transfused white blood cells attack the patient. This is very rare and happens mainly in those with weak immune systems.
Most reactions are mild, but staff watch carefully so they can treat any issues quickly.
Getting Ready for a Blood Transfusion
Before a transfusion, a healthcare provider checks the patient’s blood type (A, B, AB, or O) and whether it is Rh positive or Rh negative. This helps match the patient with compatible donor blood.
Blood typing and cross-matching are both important steps. Patients should tell their provider if they have had any past reactions to blood donations. Blood bank staff also check eligibility to ensure safety.
What You Can Expect
Getting Ready for the Transfusion
Patients may have the option to give their own blood ahead of some planned surgeries, but most transfusions use blood donated by others. The health team confirms the patient’s identity carefully to make sure the right blood or blood component, such as packed red blood cells, plasma, or platelets, is used. Sometimes, they may need several blood products depending on the condition, such as low hemoglobin or low platelets.
How the Transfusion Happens
A healthcare provider places an IV line with a needle into a vein to deliver the blood product, which could be red blood cells, platelets, plasma, or other components. The patient stays seated or lying down during the transfusion.
This process can last from one to four hours. Nurses check vital signs, like heart rate and blood pressure, throughout the transfusion. Common parts given include:
| Blood Component | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Red Blood Cells | Boosts oxygen levels. |
| Plasma | Helps blood clot normally. |
| Platelets | Aids in blood clotting. |
If the recipient feels feverish, itchy, short of breath, or has pain, they should alert the nurse right away.
What Happens Afterwards
Once finished, staff remove the needle and IV. A small bruise at the needle site is normal and should fade in a few days. The patient should watch for signs such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or back pain over the next few days and should call their provider if these symptoms appear. Most people can return to normal activities soon after the transfusion.
Results
After receiving donor blood, patients often undergo extra blood tests. These tests help track how well the transfusion is working and monitor blood cell levels. In some cases, multiple transfusions are needed to treat specific conditions.
