What is a blood transfusion?
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A blood transfusion is a medical procedure in which an individual receives blood previously taken from a healthy person through an intravenous line inserted into the individuals blood vessels.
An individual may need a blood transfusion as a result of extensive blood loss due to an injury or major surgery, an illness that causes bleeding such as an ulcer or an illness that destroys blood cells such as haemolytic anaemia.
An individual may need a blood transfusion as a result of extensive blood loss due to an injury or major surgery, an illness that causes bleeding such as an ulcer or an illness that destroys blood cells such as haemolytic anaemia.
Prior to receiving a blood transfusion, doctors must ensure that the donor and recipient are of the same or appropriate blood type that will be compatible for the blood transfusion. The blood type of a person is determined by the antigens present on the blood cells and the antibodies in blood plasma.
Normal Immune Response
A normal immune response will occur when the donor's and recipient's blood types are compatible. The blood transfusion is accepted into the body and no complications
occur.
Abnormal Immune Response
If the antibodies in the blood and antigens on the blood cell are the same, they will bind together and the cells will clump. This is called agglutination and can lead to death. The affects from agglutination involved the agglutinated cells clogging blood vessels and stoping the circulation of blood flow to various parts of the body, resulting in organ failure. The blood cells can also crack and leak their contents and poison the body as red blood cells contain haemoglobin which is toxic when not in the red blood cells.