Everything You Need to Know About Blood Transfusions: Safety, Benefits, and Procedures 25/06/2024

Introduction

Blood transfusion involves the transfer of blood or blood products into a person's circulation intravenously. A transfusion is usually necessary for someone who has lost a significant amount of blood due to trauma, surgery, or a congenital disorder such as aplastic anemia or thalassemia. Blood banks are available as a source of blood or its components in case of need.

Blood components such as the cells, RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and plasma are commonly transfused if needed. Blood banks have the operatory and machinery to segregate these components as required.

Blood transfusions are matched according to the patient's blood group. Individuals can only receive blood or its components that match their blood group. The only exception to this rule is for O-negative blood group individuals, considered universal donors. For example, a person with blood type A can receive blood from donors with blood types A, A-negative, O, or O-negative. The universal recipient is the AB +ve blood group which can receive blood from any other blood group.
 

Conditions that require blood transfusion

These situations can be congenital or acquired. Congenital anomalies commonly include thalassemia, aplastic anemia, Haemophilia, and Sickle cell disease. These are mostly chromosomal or genetic disorders, and gene therapy in intrauterine life can be attempted to correct the stage at a very nascent stage. Apart from this, these individuals have to undergo transfusion as and when required.

Acquired conditions are temporary health issues resulting from sudden and significant blood loss, requiring a blood transfusion. This can occur due to various factors such as anemia, major surgical operations, accidents causing substantial blood loss, cancer patients undergoing therapy, women in childbirth, and specific cases involving newborn babies, as well as severe burn victims.

Understanding blood transfusions and their components is crucial for treating many medical conditions. The process must be carried out precisely, hygienically, and carefully under the supervision of an expert. In modern times, the option of receiving a blood transfusion at home is available through healthcare startups such as Diagnoeasy.
 

The benefits of at-home transfusions are numerous. Just to name a few:

1. Convenient and stress-free experience within the comfort of your home.

2. Personalised attention in the comfort of your home compared to a hospital ward.

3. Eliminates the need for a family member to take a day off from work to accompany you.

4. Avoids the need for hospital visits, reducing exposure to hospital-acquired infections.

5. Hassle-free process of acquiring consumables and necessary equipment required for the transfusion at home.

6. Cost-effective compared to receiving a transfusion in a hospital setting.

Importance of blood transfusion

Blood and iron transfusions are paramount in medicine as they are critical in addressing various health conditions. On the other hand, iron transfusions are vital for treating conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, ensuring that patients receive the required iron levels to support overall health and physiological functions. Both transfusion processes are integral in improving and sustaining the quality of life for individuals facing specific medical challenges.

1. Blood Transfusion Process:

- Blood transfusion involves the transfer of blood or blood products into a person's circulation intravenously. This is usually necessary for individuals who have lost a significant amount of blood due to trauma, surgery, or certain medical conditions such as anemia or thalassemia.

- The blood received is carefully matched to the patient's blood group to ensure compatibility and safety.

2. Iron Infusion Process:

- Iron infusion entails the intravenous delivery of iron directly into the bloodstream. This procedure is commonly used to address conditions such as iron deficiency anemia or other health issues that require an increase in the body's iron levels.

- During the infusion, a healthcare professional will insert a needle into a vein, through which The iron solution will be slowly administered. The entire process typically takes about 1 to 2 hours to complete.

Both the blood transfusion and iron infusion processes are crucial for treating specific medical conditions and must be carried out precisely and carefully under the supervision of qualified healthcare professionals. After the procedures, patients need to adhere to any post-procedure care instructions provided by the medical team.
 

Timeline

Here is a short timeline of the transfusion process id done at home:

Timeline of the blood and iron transfusion process:

1. Blood samples for Blood Tests are collected

2. Blood Bank personnel will collect the blood sample for cross-matching & original prescription for the requisition

3. 1 unit blood delivery for transfusion. (The blood has to be kept in the fridge before the procedure, not the deep fridge.)

4. Arrival of ICU technician

5. Explanation of the procedure and signing of consent letter by the patient's family

6. IV Cannulation and set up for the transfusion

7. Arrival of the doctor for the initial checkup

8. Go ahead from the doctor and blood transfusion starts

Sometimes and in certain scenarios, a patient might require transfusion more than once. In such conditions, the patient must be surrounded by staff and doctors who are caring, compassionate, and fit for the job. Blood transfusion can be a daunting procedure for some and a little help may go a long way.