Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBlood TransfusionHow Does It Help Anemia?Is It Right for You?ProcedureAfter TransfusionRisksAlternativesOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Blood Transfusion
How Does It Help Anemia?
Is It Right for You?
Procedure
After Transfusion
Risks
Alternatives
Outlook
Anemiais a low red blood cell (RBC) count or abnormal RBC function. Because RBCs deliver oxygen throughout the body, anemia affects the function and health of every organ and causes symptoms such as fatigue, light-headedness, and feeling cold.
Getting adequate nutrients through diet and enough rest are often sufficient to resolve anemia. However, ablood transfusioncan be a lifesaving intervention for severe anemia, and this procedure might be part of ongoing therapy for certain blood disorders.
This article describes blood transfusions and what to expect if you need one for anemia.
Suwinai Sukanant / 500px / Getty Images
What Are Blood Transfusions Exactly?
During this procedure, the donated blood is introduced into your body through a vein. It takes about an hour to complete a blood transfusion,depending on how much donor blood you need to receive and the flow rate of the infusion.
How Does a Blood Transfusion Help Anemia?
A blood transfusion can quickly replace RBCs that your body can’t replenish fast enough.
How Do You Know If a Blood Transfusion for Anemia Is Right for You?
A blood transfusion is a well-established procedure with known health indications and benefits. Generally, the decision to proceed with a blood transfusion is based on factors such as symptoms, cause of bleeding, andhemoglobin level.
Hemoglobinis a protein that binds to oxygen in RBCs. A blood test can measure hemoglobin concentration.
Generally, consideration for transfusion starts at levels below 7 to 8 grams hemoglobin per deciliter of blood (g/dL).However, the exact criteria and protocol will depend on the underlying medical condition, the person’s symptoms, and/or the procedure being done (such as surgery).
An example of when you might need a transfusion is having lost a significant amount of blood due to a major injury or as a result of extensivegastrointestinal bleeding. It could be very difficult for your body to catch up with the RBC loss. In this situation, you could experience life-threatening consequences of anemia, and a blood transfusion could be necessary for your survival.
Sometimes, a blood transfusion is planned as part of the treatment during a major surgery when substantial blood loss is anticipated.When it’s planned in advance, you might be able to have anautologous blood transfusion—which is “banking” your own blood before your procedure so you can receive it intravenously to replace the blood that’s lost during your operation.
Certain health conditions, such as bone marrow disorders, intestinal bleeding, or cancer, may lead to a slow onset of anemia—potentially causing the need for a blood transfusion.
Types of Transfusions for AnemiaBlood transfusions for anemia include RBCs, but in certain circumstances, blood transfusions may specifically include platelets (cells that assist in blood-clotting) or other blood components, depending on the underlying condition that’s being treated.
Types of Transfusions for Anemia
Blood transfusions for anemia include RBCs, but in certain circumstances, blood transfusions may specifically include platelets (cells that assist in blood-clotting) or other blood components, depending on the underlying condition that’s being treated.
What Happens During a Blood Transfusion for Anemia?
Before you receive a planned blood transfusion, you would have yourblood typedand crossmatched so you receive blood from a matching donor and no concerning mismatch is detected.
Blood typesare determined based on markers (antigens) on the surface of red blood cells. The major blood types are O, A, B, and AB, and each is designated as Rh positive or Rh negative. If receiving mismatched blood, immune reactions can occur, including some that are severe and life-threatening.
If you need blood in an emergency and typing or crossmatching is not possible, you will receive type O negative blood. This type is considered a universal donor because it does not have the antigens that could trigger a major incompatibility reaction.
The Procedure
During your blood transfusion, an intravenous needle injected into your vein, and a thin plastic tube carries the donor blood from a sterile bag into your vein. Throughout your blood transfusion, you may also have your blood pressure checked, your pulse rate measured, and youroxygen saturationmeasured.
Medical staff will frequently check on you to see if you are having any side effects and ensure that the infusion rate is adequate.
What Happens After a Blood Transfusion for Anemia?
After your blood transfusion is complete, your healthcare providers will remove the needle from your vein. After making sure that you are not bleeding from the vein, they will apply pressure for a few minutes and cover the puncture site with a bandage.
If you are a hospital inpatient (staying overnight), you will continue with your other treatment. If you receive a blood transfusion as an outpatient, you will have your blood pressure and other vital signs measured, and then you will be able to go home after it is clear that you are stable.
After having a blood transfusion, it may take a few days for you to recover, especially if a large quantity of blood was replaced.
Sometimes people need repeated blood transfusions due to an underlying medical condition that causes recurrent anemia. Intermittent surveillance with blood tests can identify anemia, and will be used to determine the need for repeated blood transfusion.
What Are the Potential Risks and Complications of a Blood Transfusion for Anemia?
A few risks and complicationsare associated with blood transfusion. The most serious risk is a mismatched donor and recipient, which will cause a severe immune reaction. This reaction is very rare due to the great care taken in typing, crossmatching, and identifying the blood unit and recipient before transfusion.
Other risks of blood transfusion are also very low due to the screening of blood donors, testing of donated blood, and medical stabilization of recipients.
Risks may include:
Alternatives to Blood Transfusion for Anemia
Blood transfusion is one treatment for severe anemia. Depending on the underlying condition and the severity of anemia, sometimes other treatments are preferred instead, such as:
How Anemia Is Treated
What’s the Outlook for People With Anemia Who Have a Blood Transfusion?
Generally, blood transfusion is very effective for treating severe anemia. This therapy is beneficial for rapidly progressive and severe anemia, as well as for anemia that develops over a long period of time or recurs due to chronic diseases. The risk of complications is fairly low.
Summary
If you have a medical condition that causes chronic anemia, or if you’ve had an episode of acute anemia, you may have had a blood transfusion or a blood transfusion might have been considered as a potential therapy.
Precautionary measures help prevent the most common side effects, making complications fairly rare. Living with anemia can be challenging and interfere with quality of life. However, it is possible to live a healthy life and lower the chances of serious consequences. If you are at risk for recurrent anemia, a blood transfusion may be part of your treatment plan.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Blood transfusion safety.World Health Organization.Blood products: blood donation.American Red Cross.A compendium of transfusion practice guidelines.Raval JS, Griggs JR, Fleg A.Blood product transfusion in adults: indications, adverse reactions, and modifications.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(1):30-38.Tibi P, McClure RS, Huang J, et al.STS/SCA/AmSECT/SABM update to the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Patient Blood Management.J Extra Corpor Technol.2021;53(2):97-124. doi:10.1182/ject-2100053Goodnough LT, Panigrahi AK.Blood transfusion therapy.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):431-447. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.012Centers for Disease Control.Blood safety basics.American Society of Hematologists.Iron-deficiency anemia.Langan RC, Goodbred AJ.Vitamin B12 deficiency: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):384-389.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia in chronic kidney disease.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Blood transfusion safety.World Health Organization.Blood products: blood donation.American Red Cross.A compendium of transfusion practice guidelines.Raval JS, Griggs JR, Fleg A.Blood product transfusion in adults: indications, adverse reactions, and modifications.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(1):30-38.Tibi P, McClure RS, Huang J, et al.STS/SCA/AmSECT/SABM update to the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Patient Blood Management.J Extra Corpor Technol.2021;53(2):97-124. doi:10.1182/ject-2100053Goodnough LT, Panigrahi AK.Blood transfusion therapy.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):431-447. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.012Centers for Disease Control.Blood safety basics.American Society of Hematologists.Iron-deficiency anemia.Langan RC, Goodbred AJ.Vitamin B12 deficiency: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):384-389.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia in chronic kidney disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Health Organization.Blood transfusion safety.World Health Organization.Blood products: blood donation.American Red Cross.A compendium of transfusion practice guidelines.Raval JS, Griggs JR, Fleg A.Blood product transfusion in adults: indications, adverse reactions, and modifications.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(1):30-38.Tibi P, McClure RS, Huang J, et al.STS/SCA/AmSECT/SABM update to the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Patient Blood Management.J Extra Corpor Technol.2021;53(2):97-124. doi:10.1182/ject-2100053Goodnough LT, Panigrahi AK.Blood transfusion therapy.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):431-447. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.012Centers for Disease Control.Blood safety basics.American Society of Hematologists.Iron-deficiency anemia.Langan RC, Goodbred AJ.Vitamin B12 deficiency: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):384-389.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia in chronic kidney disease.
World Health Organization.Blood transfusion safety.
World Health Organization.Blood products: blood donation.
American Red Cross.A compendium of transfusion practice guidelines.
Raval JS, Griggs JR, Fleg A.Blood product transfusion in adults: indications, adverse reactions, and modifications.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(1):30-38.
Tibi P, McClure RS, Huang J, et al.STS/SCA/AmSECT/SABM update to the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Patient Blood Management.J Extra Corpor Technol.2021;53(2):97-124. doi:10.1182/ject-2100053
Goodnough LT, Panigrahi AK.Blood transfusion therapy.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):431-447. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.012
Centers for Disease Control.Blood safety basics.
American Society of Hematologists.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Langan RC, Goodbred AJ.Vitamin B12 deficiency: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):384-389.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia in chronic kidney disease.
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