When does transfused blood in recepients body change?
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Blood Transfusion Procedure Reactions, Risks, Side Effects, Complications, and Recovery Time
Medical Author: Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
Medically Reviewed on 7/3/2018
Table of Contents
Blood transfusion definition and facts
What is a blood transfusion?
Using your own blood (autologous blood)
Donor blood (blood from another person)
What is a blood bank?
What are the different types of blood?
What are the types of blood transfusions?
Who needs a blood transfusion?
What to expect before a blood transfusion
What to expect during a blood transfusion
What to expect after a blood transfusion
Allergic reactions, infections, fever, and iron overload risks and complications
Lung injuries, hemolytic reactions, and immune hemolytic reaction risks and complications
Are there alternatives to blood transfusions?
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Blood transfusion definition and facts
Blood transfusions can be a life saving measure.
Volunteer donor blood usually is readily available, and when properly tested has a low incidence of adverse events.
The likelihood of contracting infections from a blood transfusion is very low (varies with the infectious agent from 1 in 350,000 to 1 in 1 million), but can occur.
Transfusion of your own blood (autologous) is the safest method, but requires planning and not all patients are eligible. It is usually only an option for elective surgery.
Directed donor blood allows the patient to receive blood from known donors.
Blood conserving techniques are an important aspect of limiting transfusion requirements.
Blood banks are responsible for collecting, testing and storing blood.
People with Type O, negative blood are considered universal donors as it is safe to transfuse to nearly everyone.
Most of the time a transfusion is not a "whole blood" transfusion, but rather certain blood products, with red blood cells being the most common.