A transfusion may also be needed in conditions such as liver disease that affect the production of clotting proteins. Granulocytes are a type of white blood cell that help to fight infection. Granulocyte transfusions aren't commonly used, but may be needed if there's a severe infection that's not responding to antibiotics after chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation. Surgeons always try to carry out surgery to minimise the amount of blood lost. In recent years, this has become easier, due to the increasing use of keyhole surgery laparoscopic surgery , where only small cuts are made in the body.
However, some types of surgical operations and procedures have a higher risk of blood loss; therefore, a blood transfusion is more likely to be needed. It may be possible to use a procedure called intra-operative cell salvage.
It collects your blood that's lost during the surgery, and it can be returned back to you. If you're going to receive a blood transfusion as part of a planned course of treatment, the doctor, nurse or midwife planning your transfusion will usually obtain your informed consent for the procedure.
In obtaining consent , they should:. There may be circumstances when it's not possible to obtain consent before a transfusion — for example, if someone is unconscious after a major accident. A sample of your blood will be taken before the transfusion to check that the blood you receive is compatible with your own blood.
Blood is usually given through a tiny plastic tube called a cannula, which is inserted into a vein in your arm. The cannula is connected to a drip and the blood runs through the drip into your arm. Depending on the underlying condition and the type of other treatment needed, some patients may have a larger tube, which is known as a central line, inserted into a vein in their chest. Alternatively, a peripherally inserted central catheter PICC line may be inserted in the crook of the arm.
There may be some discomfort when the tube is put into the vein, but you shouldn't feel anything during the transfusion. You'll be observed at regular intervals, but if you start to feel unwell during or shortly after your transfusion, you should tell a member of staff immediately. Some people may develop a temperature, chills or a rash. These reactions are usually mild and easily treated with paracetamol or by slowing down the blood transfusion.
Severe reactions to blood are rare. If they occur, staff are trained to recognise and treat them. If you have any concerns, discuss them with your doctor, nurse or midwife. Blood transfusions are a fairly common procedure. The risk of serious side effects is low, as your blood is tested against the donor blood to make sure it is compatible, and you will be monitored regularly during the transfusion. Having an allergic reaction to the donated blood is a rare complication of a blood transfusion.
In , there were reported cases of allergic reactions after a blood transfusion in the UK. The symptoms of the reaction are usually mild and occur during or shortly after the transfusion. These types of reactions can usually be successfully managed by slowing down or stopping the transfusion and treating the symptoms with antihistamines and, in some cases, paracetamol.
Anaphylaxis is a more serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to antibodies or other substances in the blood. In , there were 33 cases of anaphylaxis associated with blood transfusions in the UK. Treatment for anaphylaxis is usually an injection of a type of medication called adrenaline.
Occasionally, too much blood is transfused into the body in too short a time for the body to properly cope with it. This is known as fluid overload. The excess fluid can result in the heart being unable to pump enough blood around the body heart failure. The lungs also become filled with fluid, which can result in shortness of breath. Ask if this is appropriate for you. A blood sample will be taken from you before the transfusion, to ensure that the blood you receive is a correct match to your own blood.
It is important that staff identify you correctly by asking you your full name and date of birth, and then check these details against your identity band before taking the sample.
A blood transfusion is usually given through a tiny tube directly into a vein in the arm. Again it is important that staff identify you correctly by asking you your full name and date of birth, and then check these details against your identity band, before starting the transfusion. Although there may be a little discomfort when the tube is put into the vein, you should not feel anything when the transfusion is in progress.
If you do feel any discomfort or feel any different, then make sure you tell a member of staff straight away. It may take up to four hours to give each bag of blood, but it can be safely given more quickly in the majority of cases. You may be given more than one bag of blood as part of your treatment. A blood transfusion may be given because of a shortage of red blood cells in the blood, either because the body is not making enough of them, or by loss of blood.
Sometimes the bone marrow, which produces blood cells, cannot make enough of them. This may be due to disease or a failure of the bone marrow to work properly. It may be temporary or a longer term problem. Some treatments, such as chemotherapy, can also affect the bone marrow in this way. In some cases the anaemia can be treated with medicines; in other cases, a blood transfusion may be the best treatment.
Most people can cope with losing a moderate amount of blood without needing a blood transfusion, as this loss can be replaced with other fluids. However, if larger amounts of blood are lost, a blood transfusion may be the best way of replacing blood rapidly. A blood transfusion may be needed to treat severe bleeding, for example during or after an operation, childbirth or after a serious accident.
Yes, the risk that a blood transfusion will make you ill is very low. One of the most important ways of achieving a safe transfusion is to make sure you get the right blood. You can help reduce the small risk of being given the wrong blood by asking your nurse or doctor to check that it is the right blood for you. Compared to other everyday risks the likelihood of getting an infection from a blood transfusion is very low.
All blood donors are unpaid volunteers. They are very carefully selected and tested to make sure that the blood they donate is as safe as possible. Although the risk of getting variant Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease vCJD from a blood transfusion is probably low with a single blood transfusion, the risk of any infection will increase with additional blood transfusions.
Each year, approximately 2. You will be observed before, during and after your blood transfusion. If you feel unwell during or after it, you should inform your doctor or nurse immediately. Not all blood transfusions are the same. The difference lies in what component of blood a person receives. The most common types are:. Whole blood transfusions are less common.
Separating blood into its different parts makes it possible for more people to benefit from a single unit of blood.
According to the American Cancer Society, each unit of red blood cells takes around 2 hours to transfuse. Transfusions usually start slowly and should take no more than 4 hours. Transfusions of plasma or platelets take less time. We give more information from a different source in the table above. First, the doctor takes a blood sample and runs a complete blood count test to confirm what sort of transfusion the person needs.
Using a needle, the doctor inserts an intravenous IV line into a blood vessel. If the person has anemia due to a chronic illness, such as kidney disease or cancer, they may already have a device that provides long-term or permanent access to a vein. In this case, the person does not need a new IV insertion every time they have a transfusion. The doctor will monitor closely for signs of an adverse reaction, especially during the first 15 minutes of the transfusion.
However, a reaction can appear up to several weeks afterward. Some signs of an adverse reaction include :. When the transfusion is complete, the doctor removes the IV line. The person may notice bruising or discomfort for a few days at the site of the IV. A person may need a blood transfusion if they lose blood due to an injury, surgery, or childbirth.
People may also need transfusions if they have a medical condition that prevents their blood from functioning effectively. A transfusion can take 1—4 hours. Some people notice improvement right away. For others, the benefits may take time to appear. Welcome Publication Information Figures: Tables: Tables Preface Contents 1: Transfusion ten commandments 2: Basics of blood groups and antibodies 3: Providing safe blood 4: Safe transfusion — right blood, right patient, right time and right place 4.
Download as PDF. Quality in blood and tissue establishments and hospital blood banks 3: Care and selection of whole blood and component donors including donors of pre-deposit autologous blood 4: Premises and quality assurance at blood donor sessions 5: Collection of a blood or component donation 6: Evaluation and manufacture of blood components 7: Specifications for blood components 8: Evaluation of novel blood components, production processes and blood packs: generic protocols.
0コメント