Purposes of Blood Transfusions
A blood transfusion is needed in many cases, such as bleeding disorders, disease, injury, or surgery. This procedure provides one or more parts of blood that the body requires after an accident or illness. These include:
– White blood cells to fight infections
– Red blood cells to transport oxygen and remove waste products
– Platelets to help the blood clot properly
– Plasma, the liquid part of the blood
The most commonly transfused part of blood is the red blood cell. In some serious cases, a doctor might transfer whole blood with all the parts. Some conditions that require blood transfusions include anemia, cancer, hemophilia, liver disease, kidney disease, or sickle cell disease. [4]
