What is Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusion is a process of blood transfer or blood components from one person (the donor) to another person (recipient). Sometimes it is necessary that the blood loss immediately be compensated or to temporarily reinforce the resistance. Sometimes half a liter or a liter of blood in the vein given on time is a lifesaver. Blood transfusions can be used in the treatment of serious anemia or thrombocytopenia caused by a blood disease. People who suffer from hemophilia or sickle cell anemia usually need frequent blood transfusion to be performed.
Blood Transfusions Benefits:
- increasing ability of blood to carry oxygen
- restoring the body’s blood volume,
- enhancing immunity,
- correcting problems with blood clotting.
Depending on the reason for transfusion, the doctor may order a full (whole) blood or blood components, such as red blood cells, platelets, clotting factors, fresh frozen plasma (liquid part of blood) or white blood cells. Wherever possible, blood transfusions are composed of only blood component that meets the patient’s specific needs, rather than whole blood. Giving a specific ingredient is safer and more fuel-efficient.
In the United States each year provides about 15 million blood transfusions. Thanks to better methods for monitoring blood transfusions are safer today than ever. However, they can still carry risks for the recipient, such as allergic reactions or infections. Although the likelihood of getting AIDS or hepatitis through blood transfusion is negligible, the doctors are aware of these risks and decide for transfusion only when it seems that there are no other options.
Blood Transfusion History Timeline
The first historical attempt at blood transfusion was described by chronicler Stefano Infessura. Infessura tells how in 1492 year, when Pope Inocent VIII fell into a coma, into the blood of three boys was entered the blood of the dying Pope on the recommendation of a doctor. The boys were about ten years old. All three boys died later. However there are still speculations on the relevance of this story.
The idea of blood transfusion is not new. In the 1654th year The Italian physician Francesco Foli tried to do a blood transfusion from one animal to another. Later, there were attempts of animal transfusion to human, but with no success.
Today it is known that the animals of one type do not accept the blood of animals of another species. It essentially acts as a poison and always causes death. Until the First World War there has been no great progress in giving blood. Then we already knew that the blood of some people cannot safely be given to other people. This led to the classification of blood in the four major blood groups which are determined by laboratory methods. Blood donors must match the recipient’s blood, so it is necessary to determine beforehand the blood group of both. In hospitals there are so called “Blood banks “, in which the blood is kept at low temperature and given to the victims when needed. However there are still reasonable risks from blood transfusion.
We gave a small introduction of blood banking term in Blood Transfusion Information article. Blood bank is a department in hospital, in which the blood is kept at low temperature and given to the victims when a need occurs. Once the blood is donated it is stored in sterilized conditions. When a blood is donated a certain set of standard tests are performed in laboratory (ABO System, hepatitis viruses B and C tests, etc.) Nearly every hospital in USA have one blood bank department. Hereby we are bringing you the latest blood bank list.
