Vérpótlás

Vérpótlás, a Hungarian term, translates to "blood replenishment" or "blood replacement" in English. It refers to the medical procedure of transfusing blood or blood components to a patient who has lost blood due to various reasons. This can include acute hemorrhage from trauma, surgical procedures, or chronic conditions leading to significant blood loss. The primary goal of vérpótlás is to restore the patient's oxygen-carrying capacity, maintain blood volume, and correct clotting deficiencies.

The procedure involves administering donated blood, which can be whole blood, packed red blood cells, plasma, or platelets, depending on the specific needs of the patient. Blood transfusions are carefully managed to minimize risks and ensure compatibility between donor and recipient blood. Before a transfusion, crossmatching is performed to prevent transfusion reactions. Indications for vérpótlás are determined by a physician based on clinical assessment and laboratory findings. While vital for saving lives and improving patient outcomes, blood transfusions are not without potential risks, including allergic reactions, fever, and the transmission of infectious diseases, though screening protocols have significantly reduced these risks. In certain specific situations, autologous blood transfusion, where a patient's own blood is collected and stored for later use, may be an option.