Cardiologist Interview Question:

Tell us is Blood Transfusion Necessary?

Submitted by: Muhammad

Blood transfusion is required for many children who have heart surgery and sometimes for other reasons. Blood contains a variety of components, including the red blood cells which carry oxygen, proteins in the plasma and a number of special factors which are necessary for blood clotting to take place (e.g. platelets, fibrinogen, factor 8, etc.).

These components are sometimes given separately, e.g. platelets or plasma, where there is a problem needing treatment with specific blood products. It used to be thought that every child having heart surgery (especially open heart surgery) would need a blood transfusion. Nowadays, with much improved heart-lung bypass equipment, this is not always the case.

In young children (up to two or three years old) it is usually desirable to use blood products, as they may become severely or dangerously anaemic without them. In older children, depending on the complexity of the procedure and the amount of blood which they are likely to lose during the operation, it is often possible to manage without transfusion and when feasible, this is now the preferred option. All children will have their blood cross matched before surgery so that it is available if required.
Submitted by: Muhammad