Benefits of blood transfusion

Overview

You never know when you may need a blood transfusion.

Transfusions occur when a blood from a donor is infused into a patient. This usually happens when certain components of the patient’s blood, such as red blood cells or platelets, become too low.

“Transfusions are as safe now as they’ve ever been in the era of modern medicine,” says Yale Medicine pathologist Jeanne Hendrickson, MD, associate director of Yale Medicine's Blood Bank.

While blood transfusions are life-saving treatments, like all medical procedures, they come with some risks. Physicians and staff at Yale Medicine take additional measures to ensure safe transfusions.

Why are blood transfusions performed?

There are many reasons why a blood transfusion may be necessary for a patient.

5 complications of blood transfusion

Some examples include surgical operations, trauma accidents, complications from cancer, or chronic medical conditions. Some medications, such as chemotherapy, can diminish the body’s ability to produce blood. In these situations, blood transfusions can be used to increase the concentrations of

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