vérátömlesztést

Vérátömlesztés, often referred to as a blood transfusion, is a medical procedure where donated blood or blood components are given to a patient through an intravenous (IV) line. This process is used to replace blood lost due to surgery or injury, or to help the body make up for not being able to produce enough blood cells. It can also be used to treat certain medical conditions, such as anemia, sickle cell disease, or cancer.

The blood used for transfusion is typically donated by volunteers. Before being transfused, donated blood is carefully screened for infectious diseases and is typed and crossmatched to ensure compatibility with the recipient's blood type. This compatibility is crucial to prevent a potentially life-threatening transfusion reaction. Blood is generally categorized into different blood groups, most commonly the ABO system (A, B, AB, and O) and the Rh factor (positive or negative).

There are several types of blood transfusions. Red blood cell transfusions are the most common, used to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Platelet transfusions help stop bleeding in patients with low platelet counts. Plasma transfusions provide clotting factors and proteins to patients with bleeding disorders or severe burns. Finally, whole blood transfusions, which contain all components of blood, are rarely used outside of emergency situations.

While generally safe, blood transfusions do carry some risks, including allergic reactions, fever, and the transmission of infections, although the latter is extremely rare due to rigorous screening. Medical professionals carefully weigh the benefits against the potential risks when deciding if a transfusion is necessary.