QUESTION: My married daughter is going to have surgery soon, hopefully to remove the causes of a weakening and chronic illness.
I am worried sick about her and the care she is getting.
She doesn't eat, and they are doing nothing to build her up.
In my day they gave you a transfusion of blood to take care of the amounts you lost during surgery, but she hasn't even had that help. Can you tell me if you think her care is correct?
ANSWER: Since you have omitted many details of her problem and just what care is taking place, I am not able to comment on all the treatments that may be going on.
However, your call for a blood transfusion does deserve some explanations which may help restore your confidence in your daughter's physicians and surgeons.
It is certainly not like the old days, for modern techniques in surgery have greatly reduced the amount of blood lost during most operations.
No longer is it necessary to administer blood as a precaution against reduced blood volume.
Nor is blood indicated to build up a person's reserves as though it were some type of nutritional supplement.
With all the possibilities of reactions to blood transfusions, physicians have become more and more careful about the circumstances in which blood is given. Since febrile and allergic reactions can occur in about 1 out of each 100 units transfused, and the possibilities of blood reactions due to incompatibility are very real, no transfusions are used as preventive measures.
In addition with the possibility of hepatitis, and the remote but possible chances of an AIDS infection (about 1 for each 40,000-1,000,000 units), "caution" is the new password in transfusion indications.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
