Blood Transfusion is the process by which blood or blood products are transferred from one person (called the donor) to another person (called the recipient). Usually, this is done to save someone’s life by replacing the blood products or blood cells which may have been lost as a result of excessive bleeding or blood loss during surgery or simply to increase the blood count in a person suffering from anemia. Before going for blood transfusion, it is advisable to discuss with one’s doctor the need as well as the risks associated with transfusion.
The blood product that is safest for a person and associated with lowest amount of risk is his or her own blood. Unfortunately, it is not practical to exercise this option unless and until it is for elective surgery. In most other cases, owing to the acute nature of the blood needed, a person cannot use his or her own blood. Though one can very well refuse to undergo a blood transfusion, it may have some life threatening consequences.
In order to ensure that a person undergoes a safe blood transfusion, one must make sure to choose the best healthcare provider who properly matches one’s blood type with the others to be transfused. This involves verifying one’s name as well as the birth date. In case a person experiences certain symptoms like itching, shortness of breath or chills during the process of blood transfusion, he or she must alert the person who is in charge of the process. Blood transfusions are basically of two broad types. The first involves the blood transfusion of one’s own blood (autologous transfusion), and the other wherein someone else’s blood is used (allogenic transfusion). Allogenic is the most common form of transfusion. BT is often fraught with danger since there can be several complications which may arise in case the transfusion process is incorrect.
People Who Require Blood Transfusion
BT happens either as whole blood (including all the parts of blood) or in individual parts. Depending on the situation of the patient, he or she can choose any one of the following types of blood transfusions:
1. The most commonly transfused blood parts are the red blood cells. A person may require red blood cells if he or she has lost blood as a result of an injury or the person is suffering from severe anemia. RBCs help in carrying oxygen to the various body organs and tissues from lungs and also help the body in getting rid of waste materials like carbon dioxide.
2. Transfusion of platelets and other clotting factors is another common form of BT. Platelets and clotting factors are required to stop bleeding, both external as well as internal. In case one’s body is unable to produce these blood parts in enough quantities, the person will have to undergo blood transfusion.
3. Lastly, one may also have to undergo plasma transfusion. The liquid part of blood is called plasma which is mostly water but it also contains proteins, hormones, sugar, potassium, clotting factors, vitamins, sodium, cholesterol, calcium, and much more. A person requires plasma transfusion in case of severe burns, severe infection or liver failure.