Approximately 12 million blood transfusions occur annually in the United States, according to America's Blood Centers. Many medical conditions and diseases can lead to a critically low level of red blood cells, the oxygen-carrying component of the blood. A blood transfusion provides short-term augmentation of the red blood cell count, temporarily alleviating the symptoms and complications associated with anemia. As with all medical procedures, certain risks accompany the administration of blood. For thousands of patients each day, however, the benefits of a blood transfusion outweigh the risks.
Replenishment of Blood Volume
The blood, heart and blood vessels --- collectively known as the cardiovascular system --- deliver life-sustaining oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues. Catastrophic injuries and medical conditions associated with brisk, high-volume blood loss may prove fatal without urgent replacement. Rapid loss of one-third or more of the total blood volume can lead to death, reports the Merck Manual's online medical library.
For patients suffering from massive bleeding, blood transfusions provide potentially life-saving replenishment of the lost blood volume, preventing circulatory collapse. Blood transfusion can avert the immediate threat to life posed by rapid blood loss, providing the health care team has the opportunity to correct the patient's underlying injuries or medical problems. Possible causes of massive bleeding that may necessitate emergency blood transfusion include traumatic injuries sustained in a motor vehicle or other catastrophic accident; violence-related injuries; spontaneous rupture or erosion of a large artery or vein; and certain types of surgery.
Correction of Temporary Anemia
Certain types of illnesses and medical conditions cause temporary but profound anemia, typically leading to symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath and lightheadedness, notes the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Many cancer patients, for example, develop anemia. Patients with leukemia, those undergoing chemotherapy with drugs that suppress blood cell production, and patients receiving certain types of radiation therapy commonly develop anemia, explains the American Cancer Society. For these patients, blood transfusions temporarily correct the cancer-related anemia until the body can resume normal red blood cell production. The administration of blood in patients with profound anemia typically reduces or eliminates the symptoms associated with the red blood cell deficit.
Life-Sustaining Support with Bone Marrow Failure
Bone marrow failure describes a life-threatening medical condition in which blood cell production drops to dangerously low levels. Diseases associated with bone marrow failure may occur due to a genetic defect or develop during life. Diseases that cause bone marrow failure include Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, aplastic anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia and Fanconi anemia. Without sufficient red blood cell production, oxygen delivery to the tissues drops to critically low levels, potentially leading to permanent organ damage, reports the Cleveland Clinic. For patients with bone marrow failure, blood transfusions sustain life by providing a donated substitute for the blood their bodies cannot produce.
A bone marrow transplant provides an opportunity for cure for many patients with bone marrow failure, notes Seattle Children's Hospital. Blood transfusions sustain bone marrow transplant candidates during the search for a suitable donor.
References
- America's Blood Centers: Knowing Your Options
- The Merck Manual, Home Edition: Anemia Due to Excessive Bleeding
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Anemia
- American Cancer Society: Why Cancer Patients Might Need Blood Product Transfusions
- Cleveland Clinic: What You Need to Know About Blood Transfusions
