In 1994 I had a home-birth, but there were complications. My placenta completely retained and would not release from the uterus. I then began to hemorrhage; I kept passing out, and I thought for sure that I was probably going to die. By the time I made it to the hospital I had lost a lot of blood, and I had to have an emergency blood transfusion. Just before I went under I heard the doctor say “She is what!? AB-, she would have the rarest blood around, and we don’t have any,” he said “but we do have 0-..” then I passed out.
The blood transfusion saved my life, simply put, I wouldn’t be here if I had been a Jehovah’s Witness, or if I had gotten to the hospital 15 minutes later. To be fair, there is blood products that might have saved a JW’s life, but I am not sure the remote town in Idaho had them available at that time.
Blood transfusion therapy can restore blood volume or correct deficiencies in the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity or coagulation components. Blood contains various antigens that affect how compatible one person’s blood is with another. The antigens include the RH factor , the ABO blood group , and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) blood group.
In the laboratory these characteristics are cross-matched, especially the Rh factor and the ABO blood type, to ensure compatibility between the donor’s and recipient’s blood prior to transfusion. In the United States, 85% of the population has either type A or type O (type O is the most common), 10% has type B, and 5% have type AB.
Ideally, transfusions should be done using the same type of blood as the patient’s. If that is not possible, such in my case above, the patient would receive the closest available choice. In an emergency, when waiting for a cross-match would be unfeasible, universal type blood (type 0) or plasma can be given.
About 85% of the population is Rh-positive, which means that they possess the Rh antigen, and people who don’t have the Rh antigen, like myself, are said to be Rh-negative. Since no natural antibodies to Rh exist, a Rh negative may develop and Rh antibody if exposed to Rh-positive blood. The first exposure usually causes sensitization, but the second exposure may result in a fatal hemolytic reaction. The reactions can occur during pregnancy or through a transfusion.
When I was in my childbearing years, because of the Rh factor, I was routinely given an injection of Rh (D) immune globulin , which is given within 72 hours of exposure. Rh (D) immune globulin inhibits antibody formation. The name of the preparation I was given was called RhoGAM. It was because of RhoGAM that I was able to give birth to my children without complication. Their positive blood, otherwise, could have negatively interacted with my negative blood antibodies.
The blood products available for transfusion are:
* Whole blood
* RBC’s
* Fresh frozen plasma
* Cryoprecipitate
* Granulocytes
* Albumin,
* Platelets
Whole blood is rarely used unless the patient has lost more than 25% of the total blood volume, which I did when I hemorrhaged. Whole blood may also be used to treat severe burns and traumas.
The different kinds of blood replacement are often used for different reasons, for instance, fresh frozen plasma is used to correct deficiencies resulting from liver disease , and to expand plasma volume, just to name a couple of things.
From my experience I have found that it is a good idea, especially if you have a rare blood type , to bank your own blood. Banking your own blood would be good for those who will be experiencing surgery, elective or otherwise. If there was an emergency, it is like having an insurance policy, and comforting to know that your own blood would be given to you in that event.
Modern technology is the only reason I am here today. Without it, my life would have been cut short during childbirth, at 36 years old. I am grateful that these technologies exist so that I was able to live to continue raising my family. Having said that, it worked out excellently for me, but blood transfusions are not without risk. Some of the risks are:
* The transmission of disease (though modern technology is cutting down on diseases of the blood, almost eliminating the transmission of HIV, and now testing helps remove the hepatitis B and C component as well)
* Transfusion reactions
* Transfusion complications (reactions include antigen-antibody and exogenous reactions)
Certain transfusion reactions include, but are not limited to:
* Allergic reactions
* Donor blood hypersensitive to certain drugs
* Organisms that survive like staph
* ABO or Rh incompatibility
* Improper cross-matching
* Improperly stored blood
* Immunoglobulin A(tgA) incompatibility
Of course doctors and nurses are trained to watch for these possible reactions, and take the necessary measures needed, such as administering antibiotics, steroids and epinephrine.
Giving blood is a wonderful gift to someone who will need it down the road. I have encouraged my family to give blood regularly while they are young and healthy. If you desire to give blood watch for postings at schools, stores and other locations for the time and place that First Aid will be coming to your town. I encourage you to give the gift of life: Yes, life is in the blood, please consider giving the gift of life to those who are in need.
