Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Transfusion of your own blood (autologous) is the safest
method but requires planning ahead and not all patients are eligible.
Directed donor blood allows the patient to receive blood
from known donors.
Volunteer donor blood is usually readily available and when
properly tested has a low incidence of adverse events.
Blood conserving techniques are an important aspect of
limiting transfusion requirements.
REFERENCES: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Blood Transfusion.
Last Editorial Review: 1/20/11
NHLBI on blood transfusion
What Is a Blood Transfusion?
A blood transfusion is a safe, common procedure in which blood is given to
you through an intravenous (IV) line in one of your blood vessels.
Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or due to a
serious injury. A transfusion also may be done if your body can't make blood
properly because of an illness.
During a blood transfusion, a small needle is used to insert an IV line into
one of your blood vessels. Through this line, you receive healthy blood. The
procedure usually takes 1 to 4 hours, depending on how much blood you need.
Blood transfusions are very common. Each year, almost 5 million Americans
need a blood transfusion. Most blood transfusions go well. Mild complications
can occur. Very rarely, serious problems develop.
Important Information About
Blood
The heart pumps blood through a network of arteries and veins throughout the
body. Blood has many vital jobs. It carries oxygen and other nutrients to your
body's organs and tissues. Having a healthy supply of blood is important to your
overall health.
Blood is made up of various parts, including red blood cells, white blood
cells, platelets (PLATE-lets), and plasma. Blood is transfused either as whole
blood (with all its parts) or, more often, as individual parts.
Blood Types
Every person has one of the following blood types: A, B, AB, or O. Also,
every person's blood is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative. So, if you have type
A blood, it's either A positive or A negative.
The blood used in a transfusion must work with your blood type. If it
doesn't, antibodies (proteins) in your blood attack the new blood and make you
sick.
Type O blood is safe for almost everyone. About 40 percent of the population
has type O blood. People who have this blood type are called universal donors.
Type O blood is used for emergencies when there's no time to test a person's
blood type.
People who have type AB blood are called universal recipients. This means
they can get any type of blood.
If you have Rh-positive blood, you can get Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood.
But if you have Rh-negative blood, you should only get Rh-negative blood.
Rh-negative blood is used for emergencies when there's no time to test a
person's Rh type.
Blood Banks
Blood banks collect, test, and store blood. They carefully screen all donated
blood for possible infectious agents, such as viruses, that could make you sick.
Blood bank staff also screen each blood donation to find out whether it's
type A, B, AB, or O and whether it's Rh-positive or Rh-negative. Getting a blood
type that doesn't work with your own blood type will make you very sick. That's
why blood banks are very careful when they test the blood.
To prepare blood for a transfusion, some blood banks remove white blood
cells. This process is called white cell or leukocyte (LU-ko-site) reduction.
Although rare, some people are allergic to white blood cells in donated blood.
Removing these cells makes allergic reactions less likely.
Not all transfusions use blood donated from a stranger. If you're going to
have surgery, you may need a blood transfusion because of blood loss during the
operation. If it's surgery that you're able to schedule months in advance, your
doctor may ask whether you would like to use your own blood, rather than donated
blood.
If you choose to use your own blood, you will need to have blood drawn one or
more times prior to the surgery. A blood bank will store your blood for your
use.
Alternatives to Blood Transfusions
Researchers are trying to find ways to make blood. There's currently no
man-made alternative to human blood. However, researchers have developed
medicines that may help do the job of some blood parts.
For example, some people who have kidney problems can now take a medicine
called erythropoietin that helps their bodies make more red blood cells. This
means they may need fewer blood transfusions.
Surgeons try to reduce the amount of blood lost during surgery so that fewer
patients need blood transfusions. Sometimes they can collect and reuse the blood
for the patient.
Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, or even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.
Diverticulitis is a condition in which diverticuli in the colon rupture. The rupture results in infection in the tissues that surround the colon. Diverticulitis symptoms include: abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Treatment methods include prescription medications, and in some cases, diverticulitis surgery.
Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood cells in which the growth and development of the blood cells are abnormal. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to cancer of the white blood cells (the leukocytes) but in practice it can apply to malignancy of any cellular element in the blood or bone marrow, as in red cell leukemia (erythroleukemia).
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, which infects humans when it comes in contact with a break in the skin or tissues such as those that line the vagina, anal area, mouth, or eyes.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is usually spread by
blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needle sticks, especially with intravenous
drug abuse. Chronic hepatitis C may be treated with interferon, usually in combination with anti-virals.
Internal bleeding occurs when an artery or vein is damaged and blood to escapes the circulatory system and collects inside the body. Internal bleeding can be caused by a variety of situations such as blunt trauma, deceleration trauma, medications, fractures, and spontaneous bleeding. Treatment of internal bleeding depends on the cause of the bleeding.
The hepatitis B virus is a unique, coated DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The course of the virus is determined primarily by the age at which the infection is acquired and the interaction between the virus and the body's immune system. Successful treatment is associated with a reduction in liver injury and fibrosis (scarring), a decreased likelihood of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer, and a prolonged survival.
Polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count) causes are either primary (aquired or genetic mutations) or secondary (diseases, conditions, high altitude). Treatment of polycythemia depends on the cause.
Thrombocytopenia refers to a decreased number of platelets in the blood. There are many causes of thrombocytopenia such as decreased platelet production (viral infections for example rubella, mumps, chickenpox, hepatitis C, and HIV); increased platelet destruction or consumption (for example sulfonamide antibiotics, heparin, blood transfusions, and lupus); or increased splenic sequestration (enlarged spleen due to conditions for example liver disease, blood cancers, and more). Treatment of thrombocytopenia depends on the cause.
Sickle cell anemia (sickle cell disease), a blood disease which shortens life expectancy, is cause by an inherited abnormal hemoglobin. Symptoms may include bacterial infections, painful swelling of the hands and feet, fever, leg ulcers, fatigue, anemia, eye damage, and lung and heart injury. Treatment for sickle cell anemia aims to manage and prevent the worst manifestations of the disease and focuses on therapies that block red blood cells from stacking together, which can lead to tissue and organ damage and pain.
Medical shock is a life-threatening medical condition. There are several types of medical shock, septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, and neurogenic shock. Causes of shock include heart attack, heart failure, heavy bleeding (internal and external), infection, anaphylaxis, spinal cord injury, severe burns, chronic vomiting or diarrhea. Low blood pressure is the key sign of sock. Treatment is dependant upon the type of shock.
Alpha thalassemia is a disorder in which the alpha globin protein is underproduced. There are two pairs of genes that carry the code for the alpha chains of hemoglobin. When one gene is impaired, that person is in a carrier state and suffers no medical problems. When four genes are impaired, the production of fetal and adult hemoglobin is prevented, resulting in hydrops fetalis and leading to death before birth.
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the bite of an infected sand fly. The most common types of leishmania infection are cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is found mainly in the subtropics and tropics. Symptoms and signs of cutaneous leishmaniasis include skin sores with a raised edge and central crater, while those with visceral leishmaniasis usually have fever, weight loss, and an enlarged liver and spleen.
Arsenic comes in two forms, inorganic and organic. Organic arsenic poisoning is usually not poisonous to humans; however, inorganic arsenic in large enough amounts can lead to shock and death. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, dark urine, vertigo, delirium, shock, and death. Treatment for arsenic poisoning includes Hemodialysis and a variety of drugs.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a diseases in which blood clots within the capillaries. Causes associated with HUS include E. Coli, birth control pills, pneumonia, medications such as chemotherapy, Ticlid, and quinine. Symptoms of HUS include gastroenteritis, abdominal cramping, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis of HUS includes medical history, physical examination, and medical tests. Treatment includes rest, fluids, possible hospitalization for blood transfusion or complications due to kidney failure.
Enterovirulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) are strains of related bacteria that have a strong propensity to cause gastrointestinal tract infections. Examples of strains include: EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli), ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli), EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli), EAEC (enteroadherent E. coli), and EAggEC (enteroaggregative E. coli). Symptoms may vary depending on the strain the individual contracts. Infection is spread generally through contaminated food or drink.
Jaundice in infants occur when the baby's liver may not be developed enough to efficiently rid the body of bilirubin. Symptoms of jaundice include yellowish colored eyes, and yellowing of the skin. Some babies are more at risk to develop jaundice. Kernicterus is a type of brain damage that occurs when a baby has jaundice and is not treated. Treatment of infant jaundice is generally with phototherapy so that kernicterus should not develop.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a disease transmitted by rodents. Symptoms include fever and muscle pain. HPS can be prevented by sealing up rodent entry holes, trapping rats and mice with an appropriate snap trap, and cleaning up rodent food sources.
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