Duration of Blood Trans.

[Vik]

Wondering how often do u visit the clinic for blood transfusion?

i go once every 4 weeks/ 3 units (or bags.. watever u wanna call it)

[Stagnid]

same as me! that's pretty typical. I get 4 units if my Hb is low

[Vik]

actually i was going once (1 unit) every 4 days just before my splenectomy... that was really bad time!

[Smurfette]

Well I go once every 4 weeks...depending on my HB I usually get 3 units...but on the rare occasion I have had to only have 2 units of blood for the 4 weeks...Thats because of my Hb being so high....I also on the rare occasion get 4 units but thats only rarely...Once every 6mths or so....

Take care
Theodora

[leni28]

i go once every 3 weeks, 3 units, but when i had my son i had 2 units afterwards and 5 units 4 days later cos my hb was down to 7 and i was in agony, paler than i recall ever, and despite going thru labour i ached more cos of the low hb

[cicci50]

3 weeks 2 units.
3 units at the same time, too much and dangerous for your heart !!!!!

[leni28]

most people in melbourne do the same routine, i trust in our health proffessionals here, they know what they are doing and have many thal major patrients living into their 50's and going strong....the drip isn't run at a fast pace, and our patients with heart complications go in every week or two to lessen the stress on the body and heart

[Damla]

Hi, I have thal. İntermedia I go once every 4 weeks 2 units or 3 week 1 units... Yes cici to be added to many load blood very dengerous heart...

İmren-Turkey

[Smurfette]

Well I get 3 units every 4 weeks and the blood isnt running at a fast pace..Its only if its run at a fast pace thats when you run into some trouble with the heart...I was going every 3 weeks with 2 units cause I have had really bad reactions in the past..Now that we have stabilised my routine...We are quite happy with my progress...


ONLY IF YOU RUN A BLOOD TRANSUFION FASTER THAN NORMAL AND YOU HAVE HEART PROBLEMS THATS WHEN IT BECOMES DANGEROUS!!!! NOT IF YOU HAVE NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR HEART AND RUNNING IT AT A SLOW PACE....

Take care
Theodora

[Vik]

Originally Posted by Smurfette

ONLY IF YOU RUN A BLOOD TRANSUFION FASTER THAN NORMAL AND YOU HAVE HEART PROBLEMS THATS WHEN IT BECOMES DANGEROUS!!!! NOT IF YOU HAVE NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR HEART AND RUNNING IT AT A SLOW PACE....

Nurses here at the thal clinic here usually put the delivery rate of blood at 200CC/per hour (200ml/per hour) ..... and depending on personal pref.. patients usually inc. it upto 230ml/per hr.

I prefer 180ml/per hour - takes about 5-6 hrs for me to finish 3U.

[vamanjani]

Dear Vik and all Thalassaemics
Since all thalassaemics are R.B.C. deficient, they require regular blood transfusion. The pace of blood transfusion has to be taken care of which the staff nurse would know. None of the members have highlighted the usage of cell separator - or componant therapy. Blood transfusion should be as per the Hb level that you are required to maintain which should ideally be not less than 8gm. If the wholeblood is centrifuged and thereafter PCB's are transfused, it is o.k. If there is a facility of transfusion of R.B.C. thru cell separator, you will be able to maintain your Hb in a manner you like and the PLASMA can be used for other diseases and not a drop of blood is wasted.
It will be interesting to know as to how many of the Thalassaemics transfuse R.B.C. only?
I feel that 4 units of blood transfusion at a time - say once or twice a month - seem to be very
dangerous and at times risk to the heart also. May be, the Doctors incharge are the best persons to advise.
Would prefer more discussion on this issue which is of great concerns to the thal world
Best wishes and fondest love to you all.
Vaman Jani

[*GEM*]

there are only a few patients that actually run there blood that fast....

[Mantis]

I think the frequency of visit and the quantity of blood trabsfuse depends on many factors. If the persons Hb is getting low very quickly that person should visit more frequently or have a high quantity of transfusion with less ferquent visit. It also depend on the condition of the patient. If the patient is assosiated with aother problems then may need more blood. If the patient is in good condition, it is usually once in every 4 weeks. This also depends on the age of the patient too.

[vamanjani]

Dear Mantis,Vik, Stagnid, Smurfette,Leni28 and Cicci50 and all others
This was an opinion poll as to how often do you go to the clinic for blood transfusion?
Most of you have polled every 3/4 weeks 3 to 4 units or 2units/3 weeks.
A normal hb level is generally considered to be between 13-16gm/dl in men and 11-14gm/dl in women and children. In both men and women, hb levels between 8-11 gm/dl represent moderate anaemia, with severe anaemia at levels less than 8g/dl
If hb level is observed below 7gm/dl, there are every likelyhood that the following characteristics may be noted.
facial changes, poor growth and limited weight gain, bone fractures, tumour masses.
Where these criteria are observed, transfusion therapy should not be delayed.
Blood transfusion therapy should be made as safe as possible for the patient. The risk
of infectious agents such as viruses,bacteria or parasites being transmitted from a blood donor to a patient should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Patients with thal major lack red blood cells, therefore patients receiving blood transfusion therapy should ideally only receive red blood cells, which contain none of the other components of the whole blood - e.g. plalsma, white blood cells and platelets. If a patient receives whole blood, there is a risk that the bodys circulatory system will be overloaded, developing complications like heart failure and pulmonary oedema. The removal of white cells and platelets from whole blood also decreases the risk of unwanted effects such as fevers during and after the blood transfusion.
Packed red blood cells can be obtained through a process of spinning the blood(centrifuge) which removes about 70% plasma and the white blood cells found in the whole blood. Red blood cells separate from the rest, accumulating at the bottom. Anumber of solutions can be added to the red blood cells such as anticoagulants, which prevent the cell sticking together and nutrients or additives that can extend the life and preserve the quality of red blood cells.
Patients with thalassamia should receive transfusion of packed red cells preferably not more than seven daysold. Even wher nutrients have been added, patients should not be given packed red blood cells more than two weeks old, becuase there are as yet no reliable studies to confirm that red blood cells stored for longer are as beneficial in the treatment.
Where blood banks are not able to carry out plasma separation, or to wash or filter blood in the desired, whole blood connected from the donor should be stored in a refrigerator at four degree centigrade for 24-48 hours, allowing the red cells to collect at the bottom of the blood bag. However, this process is 1000 times less efficient than filteration.
Hb level should ideally be measured before and after every transfusion in order to assess the effectiveness of the treatment. If this is not possible,Hb levels should be measured as often as possible - once a week , once every 15 days.
Hope, these guidelines will help our thal world a lot. More when I hear from you
VAMAN JANI

[mohak_arora]

hi every1 ,
how many units of blood we can take at a time. my doctors say that we should take 2 units or 3 units at a time.
thanks
mohak