Blood transfusion

By ULY CLINIC

Simple (Top-Up) Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion is indicated if:

There are acute symptoms of anaemia, such dyspnoea, tachycardia, severe weakness
Haemoglobin level is < 6g/dl
Haemoglobin level has dropped by > 2g/dl below the steady-state value.

Note : Because the cardiovascular system adjusts to the chronic anaemia, blood transfusion is not routinely indicated in steady state SCD simply for the reason that haemoglobin level is below 8–10g/dl.

Exchange Blood Transfusion

Venesection to reduce the proportion of HbS red cells with transfusion of normal HbA blood is often beneficial in the treatment or prevention of life-threatening and other manifestations of sickle cell disease 5. Hence, the aim in this process of exchange blood transfusion (EBT) is to reduce HbS to 30%. Exchange blood transfusion can be done manually or automatically with a red cell apheresis machine.

Indications for Exchange Blood Transfusion

Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVAs)
Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS)
Prior to major surgery
Multi-organ failure, including Systemic Marrow Fat Embolism (SMFE)
Multiple pregnancies
Prevention of recurrent stroke.

Relative Indications for Exchange Blood Transfusion

Intractable or very frequent severe crises

Major priapism unresponsive to other therapy

Updated on, 27.10.2020

References

1. STG page number 10-12

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