Blood transfusion

Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. It can be considered a form of organ transplant. Blood transfusions may treat medical conditions, such as massive blood loss due to trauma, surgery, shock and where the red cell producing mechanism (or some other normal and essential component) fails (see blood diseases).

Procedure

The process of donating blood takes about 45 minutes. About 450 ml (¾ pint) are taken. Afterwards, donors should have moderate volumes of non-alcoholic drinks, to help restore their blood volume back to normal. This generally occurs within a few hours. The donor's body replaces other components of the blood, such as platelets and red cells within a few days or weeks.

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