BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Blood Transfusion generally refers to the process of administering blood or blood products to a patient (recipient) by placing a hollow needle or catheter in on of the patient’s veins. Transfusions are usually used to restore the blood volume and/or oxygen carrying capacity of the recipient’s blood.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION REACTON
Transfusion Reaction is a problem that can occur after a patient receives blood. In a transfusion reaction, the immune system launches a response against the new blood cells or other parts of the transfusion. The immune system normally can tell its own blood cells from other cells. On the surface of red blood cells are proteins that the body sees as antigens. Having antibodies against blood antigens makes blood groups compatible or incompatible. Tranfusing blood between compatible groups (such as O+ to O+) usually causes no problem. Blood transfusion between incompatible groups (such as A+ to O-) causes an immune response against the cells carrying the antigen. This can lead to a transfusion reaction.
(Source, National Library of Medicine, 2007)
