Blood Transfusion

The transferring of blood from one person to another is called blood transfusion. Blood transfusions are necessary in blood loss during surgery, accidents, and to treat conditions like anaemia. Hospitals depend on blood donation banks to help them in carrying out major operations.

Blood is necessary for life. It helps in carrying oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body. Without blood, the organs would stop functioning and a person could die.

When Is Blood Transfusion Done

Blood transfusions are essential for numerous medical conditions, replacing blood loss in surgery, and emergency treatment.

One may lose blood during critical surgeries. Small amount of blood is replaced with salt solution, which the body replaces with newer cells in the days to come. Blood transfusion is essential if a huge quantity of blood is lost. This is crucial as cells require oxygen to function and the blood transmits this oxygen.

A minority of people require blood transfusions for major surgeries. To reduce the requirement of a blood transfusion, eating a well balanced diet a few weeks before the surgery helps. Ask your general practitioner for counsel on increasing iron stores.

Blood transfusions depend on your health, blood type, medical history, and how serious the condition is.

Why Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion plays a vital role in modern medicine. It is essential:
To restore severe blood loss after an injury or during a surgical operation.
Treating severe anaemia.

Losing a large amount of blood leads to a condition known as surgical shock. Shock occurs when there is increased blood loss because of bleeding, but is also brought on by fluid loss in bloodstream in many other ways. Blood transfusion is a common option to avoid surgical shocks.

What Blood Transfusion Is Useful For

Blood transfusions help in medical treatment. They are required for different procedures including:

• General surgery.
• Orthopaedics (bones, bone diseases).
• Cardiothoracic surgery (chest and heart).
• Haematology (blood disease).
• Intensive care treatment.
• Renal (kidney) surgery.
• Emergent replacement of blood loss due to major accidents.
• Treatment involving pregnancy, childbirth.
• Treatment of newborns and children.

With the exception of major blood loss, rarely is whole blood transfused. The blood is separated into three components: red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells take oxygen to the tissue in the body with the aid of a substance known as haemoglobin. Transfusions of only the red blood cells is common to replace blood loss during surgery or haemorrhage (heavy blood loss inside the body).

Platelets help in clotting or preventing bleeding. People with blood cancer, people on chemotherapy, as well as those with bone marrow transplant have low platelet counts and require platelet transfusions.

Plasma is the fluid part of the blood. It contains protective antibodies and proteins. Plasma transfusions are given during a heart surgery, to women after childbirth, and also to undo anti-coagulant treatment. Plasma enhances blood clotting and is given to people with liver disease or after a massive transfusion.