What is Blood Transfusion?
Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood or blood components from one person (the donor) into the bloodstream of another person (the recipient).
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Fig: Blood transfusion procedure |
Indications of Blood Transfusion:
Major indications of blood transfusion have pointed out in the below:
It includes immediate effects and delayed effects.
a. Immediate effects or hazards:
It includes-
It includes-
1. Reactions are due to a mismatched (incompatible) blood transfusion- transfusion reaction.
2. Reactions due to massive blood transfusion:
It includes-
It includes-
Blood transfusion without screening leads to the transmission of blood-borne infections as follows:
Major indications of blood transfusion have pointed out in the below:
- Anemia, bleeding disorders (e.g. Hemophilia, thrombocytopenia),
- Hemorrhage (blood loss is greater than 30% of blood volume),
- Trauma,
- Burns,
- Surgery,
- Cancer patients requiring therapy,
- Women in childbirth and newborn babies in certain cases.
Hazards of Mismatched Blood Transfusion:
Hazards of mismatched blood transfusion mean reactions due to transfusion of incompatible blood.
The severity of Transfusion Reactions:
The severity of transfusion reactions maybe- - Mild: Fever and chills,
- Severe: Acute renal failure, shock, and death.
Sign and Symptoms of Mismatched Blood Transfusion Reactions:
All the sign and symptoms of mismatched blood transfusion reactions have presented in the below:
1. Non-hemolytic transfusion reaction:
It includes- - Fever,
- Difficulty in breathing,
- Itching.
It includes immediate effects and delayed effects.
a. Immediate effects or hazards:
It includes-
- Fever,
- Chills,
- Increased heart rate,
- Low blood pressure,
- Shortness of breath,
- Bronchospasm,
- Nausea,
- Vomiting,
- Red urine,
- Chest pain.
- Rigor,
- Pulmonary oedema and congestive cardiac failure (may be developed in some patients).
It includes-
- Haemolysis of red blood cells,
- Jaundice,
- Haemoglobinaemia,
- Haemoglobinuria (hemoglobin in the urine),
- Renal shutdown: Uremia, Anuria, and acute renal failure.
Hazards or Effects of Blood Transfusion:
Hazards or effects of blood transfusion are four types: 1. Reactions are due to a mismatched (incompatible) blood transfusion- transfusion reaction.
2. Reactions due to massive blood transfusion:
It includes-
- Circulatory shock,
- Hyperkalaemia,
- Hypocalcemia leading to tetany (due to massive transfusion of citrated blood),
- Haemosiderosis (increased deposition of iron in the form of haemosiderin).
It includes-
- Thrombophlebitis,
- Air embolism.
Blood transfusion without screening leads to the transmission of blood-borne infections as follows:
- HIV (AIDS),
- Syphilis,
- Glandular fever,
- Hepatitis B, C,
- Malaria,
- Herpes.
- What is the definition of blood transfusion?
- Define blood transfusion.
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- What are the indications of blood transfusion?
- Write down the hazards of blood transfusion.
- What are the effects of mismatched blood transfusion?
- What are the hazards of mismatched blood transfusion?
- What are the important hazards of blood transfusion?
- List down the key effects of blood transfusion.
- Mention the severity of transfusion reactions.
- What are the symptoms of a mismatched blood transfusion?
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