4 ms·
Generally, I think if a patient needs blood transfusions there's a bigger and more immediate life-and-death problem right there. I think allergies would be pref
by kccqzy 3y ago
Generally, I think if a patient needs blood transfusions there's a bigger and more immediate life-and-death problem right there. I think allergies would be preferable to death.
Is my understanding correct? I hope blood transfusion hasn't become a routine procedure these days.
- fastball 3y agoI don't think GC was suggesting that we stop blood transfusions, but rather that we do better tracking to improve our understanding in a way that normally would be unethical (if not for the fact that, as you say, blood transfusions are a life-saving intervention).
- eigenvalue 3y agoYes exactly.
- bobsmooth 3y agoYou get a blood transfusion for any major surgery.
- Arrath 3y agoMakes me wonder if there is any possibility to give blood in the lead-up to your surgery, such that you're transfused with your own blood?
- blendergeek 3y agoIt's called an autotransfusion and it's a thing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autotransfusion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autotransfusion
- mhaberl 3y agoYou get it IF there is a need for it, not always. I had an open heart surgery and didn't get a blood transfusion.
- theshackleford 3y agoNo.
- TechnicalVault 3y agoBefore the 1990's but not anymore. The contaminated blood scandal in the United Kingdom (https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/ https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/) and a lot of papers showing benefits to avoiding blood loss in the first place have changed practices. We haven't eliminated the use of allogeneic blood transfusions but they're indicated a lot less than they used to be.