Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood or blood components from one person (the donor) into the bloodstream of another person (the recipient). Transfusion is done as a life-saving procedure to replace blood cells or blood products lost through bleeding.
CONDITIONS WHEN BLOOD
TRANSFUSION IS NECESSARY
Blood transfusion is essential in the
following conditions:
1. Anemia
2. Hemorrhage
3. Trauma
4. Burns
5. Surgery.
PRECAUTIONS
Certain precautions must be followed
before and during the transfusion of blood to a patient.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE
TAKEN BEFORE THE TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD
1. Donor must be healthy, without any
diseases like:
a. Sexually transmitted diseases such
as syphilis
b. Diseases caused by virus like
hepatitis, AIDS, etc.
2. Only compatible blood must be
transfused
3. Both matching and cross-matching
must be done
4. Rh compatibility
must be confirmed.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE
TAKEN WHILE TRANSFUSING BLOOD
1. Apparatus for transfusion must be
sterile
2. Temperature of blood to be
transfused must be same as the body temperature
3. Transfusion of blood must be slow.
The sudden rapid infusion of blood into the body increases the
load on the heart, resulting in many
complications.
HAZARDS OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Hazards of blood transfusion are of
four types:
1. Reactions due to mismatched
(incompatible) blood transfusion – transfusion reactions
2. Reactions due to massive blood
transfusion
3. Reactions due to faulty techniques
during blood transfusion
4. Transmission of infections.
REACTIONS DUE TO
MISMATCHED BLOOD TRANSFUSION – TRANSFUSION REACTIONS
Transfusion reactions due to ABO
incompatibility and Rh Incompatibility
REACTIONS DUE TO
MASSIVE BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Massive transfusion is the transfusion
of blood equivalent or more than the patient’s own blood volume. It leads to
i. Circulatory shock, particularly in
patients suffering from chronic anemia, cardiac diseases or
renal diseases
ii. Hyperkalemia due to increased
potassium concentration in stored blood
iii. Hypocalcemia leading to tetany
due to massive transfusion of citrated blood
iv. Hemosiderosis (increased
deposition of ion in the form of hemosiderin, in organs such as
endocrine glands, heart and liver) due
to iron overload after repeated transfusions.
REACTIONS DUE TO
FAULTY TECHNIQUES DURING BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Faulty techniques adapted during blood
transfusion leads to:
i. Thrombophlebitis (inflammation
of vein, associated
with formation of thrombus).
ii. Air embolism (obstruction of blood
vessel due to entrance of air into the bloodstream).
TRANSMISSION OF
INFECTIONS
Blood transfusion without precaution
leads to transmission of blood-borne infections such as:
i. HIV
ii. Hepatitis B and A
iii. Glandular fever or infectious
mononucleosis (acute infectious disease caused by Epstein-
Barr virus and characterized by
fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat and abnormal
lymphocytes)
iv. Herpes (viral disease with
eruption of small blister-like vesicles on skin or membranes)
v. Bacterial infections.
BLOOD SUBSTITUTES
Fluids infused into the body instead
of whole blood are known as blood substitutes.
Commonly used blood substitutes are:
1. Human plasma
2. 0.9% sodium chloride solution
(saline) and 5% glucose
3. Colloids like gum acacia,
isinglass, albumin and animal gelatin
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