Three Important Practices for Blood Transfusion

Elliott Bennett-Guerrero graduated from Harvard Medical School. He is a board certified anesthesiologist and intensivist who completed his training in 1996. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero has various research interests, including cancer recurrence and blood transfusion.

Blood transfusion is a procedure where blood is donated through a small tube inserted into an arm. Blood transfusion is a treatment commonly used when a patient has an illness that makes it hard for the body to produce blood. It is also used when a patient loses a large amount of blood due to surgery or injury. It is necessary to keep certain tips in mind before starting this treatment.

Firstly, a few things must be completed before the transfusion begins. Some include ensuring that the patient has given consent, conducting a complete physical assessment, checking for appropriate vascular access, making sure the necessary equipment (like an IV line) is available, and infusing the blood with saline solution.

Next, during the procedure, the plastic bag containing donated blood must be administered within the right time frame, based on when the product arrived and when the infusion is complete. The patient’s heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure must be monitored during this period.

Finally, the patient should then be educated on the importance of contacting a medical professional if symptoms like shortness of breath, fever, and headaches develop in the future.