Good for the elderly
Several studies have reported that half of patients receiving blood transfusions are elderly [8–10]. French studies show that blood transfusions have better outcomes in the elderly [11–13], in whom low rates of adverse reactions have been reported [14–16].
Blood transfusion is an important supportive treatment of cancer patients most of whom are anemic [2], and it is a critical issue for patients with chronic diseases such as heart failure and chronic kidney disease [3, 4].
Anemia should not be accepted as an inevitable consequence of aging . A cause is found in approximately 80 percent of elderly patients. The most common causes of anemia in the elderly are chronic disease and iron deficiency .
You may need more than one unit if: You have bleeding that is not well controlled, such as bleeding that continues during surgery. You have severe anemia and unstable chest pain . (“Unstable” means that your symptoms keep changing.)
Transfused blood also has a suppressive effect on the immune system , which increases the risk of infections, including pneumonia and sepsis, he says. Frank also cites a study showing a 42 percent increased risk of cancer recurrence in patients having cancer surgery who received transfusions .
Blood transfusions are generally considered safe, but there is some risk of complications. Mild complications and rarely severe ones can occur during the transfusion or several days or more after. More common reactions include allergic reactions, which might cause hives and itching, and fever.
Anemia is a condition where you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells, to carry oxygen throughout your body. Anemia can be temporary or long term (chronic). In many cases, it’s mild, but anemia can also be serious and life-threatening.
You might need a blood transfusion if you’ve had a problem such as: A serious injury that’s caused major blood loss . Surgery that’s caused a lot of blood loss . Blood loss after childbirth. A liver problem that makes your body unable to create certain blood parts. A bleeding disorder such as hemophilia.
You may need a blood transfusion if you have anemia , sickle cell disease , a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia , or cancer . For people in critical condition, blood transfusions can be lifesaving. Four types of blood products may be given through blood transfusions: whole blood, red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Mild anemia corresponds to a level of hemoglobin concentration of 10.0-10.9 g/dl for pregnant women and children under age 5 and 10.0-11.9 g/dl for nonpregnant women. For all of the tested groups, moderate anemia corresponds to a level of 7.0-9.9 g/dl, while severe anemia corresponds to a level less than 7.0 g/dl.
The most common diseases that can cause anemia are: Any type of infection. Cancer. Chronic kidney disease (Nearly every patient with this type of disease will be get anemia because kidneys make erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that controls the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.) Autoimmune diseases .
Foods to avoid tea and coffee. milk and some dairy products. whole-grain cereals. foods that contain tannins, such as grapes, corn, and sorghum. foods rich in gluten, such as pasta and other products made with wheat, barley, rye, or oats.
Recovery time may depend on the reason for the blood transfusion . However, a person can be discharged less than 24 hours after the procedure. A person may feel an ache in the hand or arm after a transfusion . There may also be some bruising at the site.
If you have anemia, how long does a blood transfusion take? People who have anemia will receive a transfusion of red blood cells, which takes longer than a transfusion of plasma or platelets. The typical length of time for such a procedure is 4 hours , although there can be variations.
A transfusion of one unit of red blood cells usually takes 2 to 4 hours. A transfusion of one unit of platelets takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Your nurse will monitor you carefully during your entire transfusion .