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What are the effects of blood transfusion on someones survival after

injury?

Jennifer Gonzalez

Clinical Internship, 5th period

Bearden High School

Health Science Academy

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Jennifer Gonzalez

Mrs. Roach

Clinical Internship

January 31, 2017

While Blood Transfusions has been proven to be very effective in

saving the lives of many people with either life threatening injuries or

illnesses the risks involved in such procedures must be considered,

especially when other forms of bloodless treatment have been shown

to be as effective opposed to traditional treatment. Over the years

people have proven that Blood Transfusions continue to spark debate

on the risks and benefits of such treatment. Lots of controversy

surrounds this topic; for example, a lot of the bloodless treatments are

helping many people not just the ones who do it for religious reasons,

but to decrease the chance of them having any reaction to the blood or

getting a blood-borne infection. Doctors are now exploring alternatives

treatments that either use no blood at all or small factions of the

patients own blood. If the patient does not have one of the many

components of blood it can lead to life a threatening complication,

some of these factors include red and white blood cells, platelets, and

plasma. To name some of the risk that come with getting a blood

transfusion include the chance of reaction to the new blood coming

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into your system like an allergic reaction, fluid overload, fever, chills,

rash, temporary decreased ability to fight infection, and transfusion-

related acute lung injury these reactions may be mild or severe. Some

patients experience an Acute immune hemolytic reaction where the

body attacks the new blood when it is not a good match for the body.

Every blood transfusion is different because everyone has different

blood types and depending on that is how your body reacts to it, since

sometimes you might have too much plantlets in the blood or red

blood cells. There is a chance that some of the recipients might be

allergic to white-blood cells so they would have to remove that before

the transfusion. Some of the patients might not want to get a blood

transfusion and that can be because of religious purposes. Everything

comes with a risk that you need to take to save someones life, even if

it might have some risk with it. When giving a blood transfusion you

have to hang the blood within minutes to an hour of getting it.

Finally, this research will impact healthcare in a positive way, its

showing doctors and nurses how to give safer blood transfusions, plus

alternative ways for giving blood. When transfusing blood into a person

you need to be quick, but still knowing that everything is correct, if you

were to make a mistake you would need to call someone because it

can lead to some serious complications. This has helped for future

practice because, Ive noticed that nurses have a lot more

responsibilities than people think more physical work, they are the
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check-point for the patient everything that is doctor goes through them

after the doctor orders it they have to make sure that its right and its

okay for the patient.

In conclusion, I choose this topic because, I want to be a nurse and this

deals with trauma. Which is a major issue that you will see in the

hospital, and you will meet people who are in need of a blood

transfusion and wont get it because of reasons they might have, or

the ones who react badly to it. Blood transfusions are a very risky

procedure that some people have to undergo. While, yes many people

do have a high chance of survival after a blood transfusion many dont

and thats because they all react to it differently. It also affects you in

the long run because it could change the amount of time you live for,

changing things within your body like your immune system.

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List of Medical Terms

Blood Transfusion: When blood is given to you through an IV

(intravenous) line in one of the blood vessels

Red Cells: carry oxygen through your body to the heart and

brain. Adequate oxygen is very important to maintain life

White cells: less technical term for leukocyte
Plasma: Replaces blood volume and also may help prevent or

control bleeding
Platelets: helps to prevent or control bleeding
Gastrointestinal bleeding: all forms of bleeding in the

gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to the rectum

Acute immune hemolytic reaction: When antibodies directed

against the persons own red blood cells (RBCs) cause them to

burst (lyse), leading to insufficient plasma concentration

Type A: has only the A antigen on red cells (and an antibody in

the plasma)
Type B: Only B antigen on red cells (but neither A nor B Antibody

in the plasma)
Type AB: both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B

antibody in the plasma)

Type O: has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (both A and B

antibodies are in the plasma)

Rh-positive: having the rhesus factor. Antigen occurring on the

red blood cells of many humans and some other primates

Rh-negative: lack the rhesus factor
Recipients: receiving or capable of receiving something

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Complete work cited page: look for instructions below

Works Cited

"What Is a Blood Transfusion?" National Institutes of Health. U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Feb.

2017.

"Types of Blood Transfusions." American Red Cross. N.p., n.d. Web. 12

Feb. 2017.
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"A Patient's Guide to Blood Transfusions." Cleveland Clinic. N.p., n.d.

Web. 12 Feb. 2017.

"Blood Transfusion." Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.