Editing Blood transfusion (section)

{{short description|Intravenous transference of blood products}}

{{Infobox medical intervention
| Name        = Blood transfusion
| Image       = Erythrozytenkonzentrat neu.jpg
| Caption     = Plastic bag with {{nowrap|0.5–0.7 liters}} containing [[packed red blood cells]] in [[citrate]], [[phosphate]], [[glucose|dextrose]], and [[adenine]] (CPDA) solution
| alt         = Plastic bag {{nowrap|0.5–0.7 liters}} containing packed red blood cells in citrate, phosphate, dextrose, and adenine (CPDA) solution
| ICD10       = 
| ICD9        = 99.0
| MeshID      = D001803
| MedlinePlus = 000431
| OPS301      = {{OPS301|8-80}}
| OtherCodes  = 
}}

'''Blood transfusion''' is the process of transferring [[blood product]]s into a person's [[Circulatory system|circulation]] [[intravenous]]ly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-transfusion|title=Blood Transfusion |publisher=National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=2019-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623181239/https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-transfusion|url-status=live}}</ref> Transfusions are used for various medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood. Early transfusions used [[whole blood]], but modern medical practice commonly uses only components of the blood, such as [[red blood cells]], [[blood plasma|plasma]], [[platelets]], and other [[clotting factors]]. [[White blood cells]] are transfused only in very rare circumstances, since [[granulocyte transfusion]] has limited applications. Whole blood has come back into use in the [[Major trauma|trauma]] setting.<ref name="j340">{{cite journal | last1=Van Gent | first1=Jan-Michael | last2=Clements | first2=Thomas W. | last3=Cotton | first3=Bryan A. | title=Resuscitation and Care in the Trauma Bay | journal=The Surgical Clinics of North America | volume=104 | issue=2 | date=2024 | issn=1558-3171 | pmid=38453302 | doi=10.1016/j.suc.2023.09.005 | pages=279–292}}</ref>

Red blood cells (RBC) contain [[hemoglobin]] and supply the [[Cell (biology)|cells]] of the body with [[oxygen]]. White blood cells are not commonly used during transfusions, but they are part of the immune system and also fight infections. Plasma is the "yellowish" liquid part of blood, which acts as a buffer and contains proteins and other important substances needed for the body's overall health. Platelets are involved in blood clotting, preventing the body from bleeding. Before these components were known, doctors believed that blood was homogeneous. Because of this scientific misunderstanding, many patients died because of incompatible blood transferred to them.

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