If you had to receive a blood transfusion after surgery
operation, would you choose your own blood or somebody else's ??
We would like to think that the answer to this question is a foregone conclusion, but a few facts need to be clarified.
Firstly, there are 3 ways by which a patient can receive a blood transfusion:
1. homologous blood transfusion ('Allogenic' blood from the blood bank).
2. autologous reinfusion (a) your own blood collected intra-operatively, which is then washed and re-infused.
(b) your own blood collected post-operatively,which is then filtered and re-infused.
1. homologous blood transfusion (blood from the blood bank). This is the most common and accepted method of blood transfusion.
The risks associated with the use of homologous blood are recognised as being low, however there are risks. These include transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B&C and many other viruses.
However, this is not the only reason why more and more people are looking for safer alternatives. When blood is stored it undergoes many changes collectively called "storage lesion". Storage lesion affects the ability of the red cells to carry and release oxygen to the tissues and interferes with the ability of the blood to clot.
1. homologous blood transfusion:
Foreign leucocytes (white blood cells) and platelets, which are present in homologous blood, may stimulate your own body to make antibodies that can cause immediate, sometimes severe, reactions. Homologous blood can have harmful effects on the body's immune system, which make you more susceptible to post-operative bacterial infections, including pneumonia.
2. intraoperative autologous reinfusion:
Your own blood collected intra-operatively, which is then washed and re-infused. Blood shed during an operation is collected and "washed" in what is essentially a high-tech washing machine, commonly known as a "cell saver". This procedure is quite adequate for most operations, but not only is there a limit to the amount of blood that can be recycled this way, there is also a minimum volume required. In all cases only about 40% of collected blood can be re-infused.
3 postoperative autologous reinfusion:
Your own blood collected post-operatively, which is then filtered and re-infused. During the first 6 - 8 hours post-operatively 80% of blood loss takes place. It makes sense to collect blood during this period for purification and re-infusion.
POSTOPERATIVE BLOOD REINFUSION :
This is exactly what the DONOR post-operative autologous reinfusion system does and it has many advantages over pre-donated blood:
1. surgery can be scheduled without delay
2. no blood is wasted if scheduled surgery is cancelled
3. the risk of the patient being given the wrong blood is eliminated
4. the blood is fresh and not subject to the adverse effects of stored blood and the possibility of infection is eliminated
5. oxygen is available to the tissue cells immediately; this promotes immediate recuperation and can lead to shortened hospitalisation.
Patients
THE DONOR AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD REINFUSION SYSTEM
Three of the leaders in the field of blood management, Van Straten Medical, Pall Medical and Medinorm, joined forces to visualise and manufacture the state of the art DONOR autologous blood reinfusion system.
The DONOR systems represents the latest innovative design for filtering and reinfusing your own blood. This makes it immediately available to the body for recuperation at optimum levels.
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autologous blood is safe because it is your own.
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autologous blood does not have the risk of transfusion transmitted diseases, such as HIV, Aids, Hepatitis, and all those listed below.
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autologous blood does not alteryour body's normal immune response.
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autologous blood is fresh because it is re-infused immediately postoperatively.
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because healing starts immediately, it leads to a money-saving, shorter recovery period.
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the use of autologous blood greatly reduces the risk of bacterial infection.
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autologous blood reinfusion takes pressure off the blood banks, so that available blood can be used for emergencies.
If you are to undergo major surgery, particularly orthopaedic surgery, speak to your surgeon about using the DONOR system. It's worth the peace of mind!
