Low hemoglobin blood transfusion: consequences, description of the procedure and treatment features

Tinnitus, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath - all these are signs that may indicate the presence of anemia in the patient. If you suspect that you have low hemoglobin (anemia), the causes, symptoms and manifestations of the disease described in our article will help you understand how to overcome this ailment.

General manifestations of the disease

It is worth noting that doctors do not classify a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood as a separate pathology, but the condition has a number of typical symptoms by which it can be recognized.

Naturally, detailed data on the composition of the blood can be found out from the results of the general analysis. However, not all people go to the clinic regularly for professional examinations. Symptoms should be encouraged to visit a doctor:

• regular headaches and migraines;
• feeling of general weakness;
• lack of sleep;
• loss of strength or fatigue;
• heart rhythm disturbance and shortness of breath;
• poor concentration and memory;
• low blood pressure;
• lack of appetite;
• disturbed menstrual cycle in women;
• problems with potency in men;
• fainting.

With a careful attitude to his health, based on the above symptoms, a person may suspect that he has low hemogabin. Whether a blood transfusion is necessary in this case or local treatment is enough, only the doctor will say after a full examination of the patient.

Alarming Signs of Lowering Hemoglobin Levels

If a patient does not seek medical help for a long time and lives with the symptoms described above, oxygen starvation progresses in his body, the function of carbon dioxide exchange is disrupted, and an incorrect acid-base balance is created.

However, this is not the worst thing - there are signs that indicate the seriousness of the process and pose a real threat to life and health. Among them, doctors distinguish the following:

1. Impaired respiratory function.
2. Constant diarrhea and vomiting.
3. The skin loses its pink tint, becomes pale and rough.
4. Hair ceases to grow, becomes dry and brittle.
5. Spots and signs of fungal infection appear on the nails.
6. There are cracks and ulcers in the corners of the mouth.
7. Against the background of absent or excessively low immunity, the patient regularly suffers from colds.
8. In the evening, he has cramps in the muscles of his legs.
9. Taste preferences are changing (I want something unusual: chalk, lime, clay or earth), the sense of smell also suffers, and a person smells like acetone and gasoline.

Suspected of low hemoglobin? Symptoms, causes, consequences may vary slightly in each clinical case. Therefore, given this fact, it is recommended to consult your doctor immediately if at least one or more symptoms occur. The specialist will schedule a full examination and necessary tests.

Not everyone can understand why such a condition develops, which means that it is necessary to consider the reasons in detail.

Not enough iron

Everyone knows firsthand that in order to replenish the level of hemoglobin in the blood, it is necessary to provide the body with enough iron. An important trace element enters the bloodstream through food that a person eats. With an improper diet, when there are no iron-containing products, the minimum daily intake (10–20 mg) is not gained. In such situations, there is a rapid decrease in hemoglobin.

The diagnosis of doctors in these cases is: "iron deficiency anemia, or anemia." This is a rather serious disease, and its progression makes it necessary to prescribe a blood transfusion with low hemoglobin. We will analyze the consequences of the procedure a little later.

The assimilation of iron by the body

Unfortunately, even if a person receives a minimum daily dose of a trace element, this is not enough. It is necessary to make iron absorbed in the body. This is a complex internal chemical process in which many reagents are involved. Therefore, together with products containing iron, it is necessary that vitamins of group B (1, 6, 9, 12), PP and C enter the body. They act as catalysts. Also, for assimilation, you need a complete norm of folic acid.

If we consider other causes of a decrease in hemoglobin level, then they include gastrointestinal diseases and insufficient production of enzymes, which is most observed in patients of an older age group.

The production of hemoglobin is also hindered by the active vital activity of parasitic bacteria. The most dangerous is the tapeworm, which absorbs all the folic acid that enters the body. Indicators fall on average by almost 30%. But here the question arises: if you do a blood transfusion with low hemoglobin, will the effectiveness of the procedure be reduced or not? Doctors give a positive answer, but it will be paramount to fight parasites.

Hemoglobin loss

In some patients, a regular decrease in hemoglobin level is observed during its normal production. The reason for this is hidden bleeding. They occur in injuries, injuries and after various operations, as well as in the systematic donation of blood as a donor.

Indications for blood transfusion

Many who are faced with the described problem are concerned: blood transfusion with low hemoglobin - is it dangerous? To begin with, we’ll figure out when doctors unconditionally prescribe a procedure.

It is immediately worth noting that this procedure is an extreme case and is prescribed only when other therapeutic methods are powerless. Indications for her are as follows:

• diagnosed heart defects;
• acute stage blood loss;
• cerebral atherosclerosis;
• heart or lung failure;
• the need for urgent surgical intervention.

Whole blood or red blood cells are used for the procedure. When a blood transfusion is prescribed for low hemoglobin, what the consequences will be of this depends on how the person perceives the donor composition.

Often the procedure is performed for people with persistent anemia. This is due to the fact that even at rest they are tormented by tachycardia and shortness of breath, and the hemoglobin level does not exceed 60 grams per liter.

Blood Transfusion Technique

When a blood transfusion is performed with low hemoglobin, the consequences largely depend on the professionalism of the procedure. Doctors adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. Examination of the patient and history taking (tests, determination of contraindications, clarification of previous procedures of this type, whether there were pregnancies).
2. Double definition of blood group and Rh factor (laboratory and at the place of procedure), while the results should be identical.
3. Choosing the perfect donor blood. The process includes: hermetic packaging of the contents, presence of the donor’s name, blood collection number and lot, Rh factor of the donor, where the liquid was taken and with the use of which preservative, signature of the responsible doctor and expiration date. If something is missing or mismatches occur, transfusion is not performed.
4. Re-checking the group of the selected blood.
5. Checking the individual compatibility of the blood of the patient and the donor.
6. Checking the compatibility of the Rh factor of the patient and the donor.
7. Biological test (triple injection of selected blood to a patient with a volume of 25 milliliters each). In the absence of side effects, the process continues.
8. Drop introduction of blood. The average speed is 40-60 drops per minute. Only erythrocyte mass is introduced under the constant supervision of a doctor, pressure, respiration and pulse of the patient are monitored, skin integuments are examined.
9. In conclusion, leave 15 milliliters of donor blood mixed with the patient's serum. They store a mass of 48 hours (necessary to perform the analysis in case of complications).
10. The patient should remain in the clinic for another 2 hours after transfusion and a day under the supervision of a specialist. After 24 hours, blood and urine are prescribed for analysis.

If the technology is not broken, the consequences of blood transfusion with low hemoglobin will not be associated with complications.

Transfusion consequences

As practice shows, if a blood transfusion was performed with low hemoglobin, the consequences in the form of complications develop mainly in female patients. In some cases, difficulties may arise if an extensive transfusion of blood or an artificial substitute has been performed.

In a small number of patients, complications occur in a latent form, which is a consequence of the introduction of incompatible blood.

What else is dangerous procedure

Blood transfusion with low hemoglobin has consequences only when the patient has been given an unsuitable red blood cell mass. However, they will be visible already at the second administration from biological blood, after which the process should be stopped immediately.

The consequences of a blood transfusion with low hemoglobin are manifested in the patient’s restless state, respiratory failure, shortness of breath, palpitations, vomiting or urges to her. An experienced doctor will immediately notice all this and take measures to stop the process. Therefore, we can say that the professional introduction of the mass is safe for the life of the patient.