Blood Transfusions Are Becoming More And More Common

Aubri Jimenez Mrs. Galaviz English 12 5 March 2015 Blood Transfusions Lifesaving blood transfusions are becoming more and more common. Aaron Dunnagan is a perfect example of how they are lifesaving. Two years ago when he was thirty-four years old, Aaron experienced symptoms of one of the most rare blood disorders called Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP). TTP is when you have blood clots that form in your blood vessels therefore causing a lack of oxygen to your organs (Dunnagan). What is frightening about TTP is that you are not born with the disorder; people just somehow develop it. In Aaron’s case he had three embolisms (blood clots) that made it so he had a shortage of oxygen in his brain, making it hard for him to function (Dunnagan). His body had become autoimmune; this means his body was producing antibodies that were mistakenly attacking his body’s healthy blood cells (Dunnagan). The antibodies were causing a block in the activity of the ADAMTS13 enzyme which would be preventing unnecessary blood clots (Du nnagan). As a result of the lack of enzymes, less platelet were present in his plasma. This caused Aaron to need plasma exchange provided by an Apheresis machine, which supplies protein into the blood. In the total time of six months, Aaron had fifty-four transfusions done on him. For those six months, he needed eight pints of plasma every day, which is equivalent to eight people donating their blood (Dunnagan). Transfusing blood is a complicated and aShow MoreRelatedThe Risks Of Having Surgery1645 Words   |  7 PagesAspiration, or breathing food or fluid into the lungs, can be a problem, during surgery† (Whitlock, 2014). This is a possible situation that may occur before having the surgery, and some patients might even experience an increased heart rate or elevated blood pressure during the process, which is very risky for their cardiovascular system. The anesthesia complications may include malignant hyperthermia (MH), â€Å"a rare inherited disorder in which a patient has a severe reaction when anesthesia gases are inhaledRead MoreSurgical Improvements from World War One Essay1043 Words   |  5 PagesWar most surgeons would immediately amputate and in World War I surgeons began trying much harder to save limbs. Blood transfusion allowed surgeons to reduce patient death from blood loss because of the ample supply of blood from fellow soldiers. Sanitation improvements led to fewer deaths from infection and spreading effective ways to avoid getting sick, making room for those with more urgent conditions. World War I was a gruesome war that led to millions of deaths; however, one positive consequenceRead MoreHemolytic Disease Of The Newborn1169 Words   |  5 Pagesconnect a relationship with HDN with fetal hydrops, jaundice, anemia, erythroblasts in the circulation and the Rh factor. In 1953, Chown confirmed that the pathogen esis of the Rh alloimmunization to be a result of passage of Rh-positive fetal red blood cells after transplacental hemorrhage into the maternal circulation that lacks this antigen. HDN is relatively uncommon in the United States and the United Kingdom due to advancements in early detection and treatment. These advancements are stillRead MoreShould We Donate Blood Donors?846 Words   |  4 Pagesyears old? Do you weigh more than 110 pounds and consider yourself to be healthy? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you should be donating blood at least once a year. In my survey of work colleagues 25% of the staff had never donated blood before and four out of 75 only donate on a regular basis. Lack of participation of eligible donors is a serious problem that requires immediate action. Through my extensive research and four years of faithfully donating blood, I’ve come to realizeRead MoreSurgery and The First World War Essay1498 Words   |  6 Pagesamputations, and other experimenting in the surgical field, yet these experimentations improved conditions and advanced medicine. During this time, surgery was becoming more successful by leaps and bounds, attempting to overcome problems that killed soldiers, like infection and gangrene, with new inventions in the field, like transfusions and asepsis. This war, in the history of surgery, was important enough to be repeated in the famous novel, A Farewell to Arms, in many instances, such as whenRead MoreWhat Kinds of Applications Are Described Here? What Business Functions Do They Support? How Do They Improve Operational Efficiency and Decision Making?1734 Words   |  7 Pagesuterine muscles to contract normally after the baby and placenta are delivered. The blood vessels supplying the placenta during pregnan cy are severed when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus. The bleeding that results from these severed vessels normally stops when the uterus contracts, compressing the vessels. However, if the uterus doesnt contract enough, the bleeding can continue. Significant blood loss can result from a floppy, uncontracted uterus. Factors that may prevent the musclesRead MoreHiv And Aids : A Major Cause Of Death1455 Words   |  6 Pageshelp the body fight off illness. Symptoms appear at different times for each individual, for some it takes a year and for others it takes ten years. HIV is transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids or a direct port of a secretion into the blood stream. There are many different ways you can prevent the transmission of the virus such as being abstinent, and using a condom. There is no known cure for HIV. The HIV infection and AIDS continues to be a major cause of illness and ultimately deathRead MoreTranscultural Nursing And Its Relationship With Cultural Competence1131 Words   |  5 Pagesarticle â€Å"What is Transcultural Nursing?† the American population is the most diverse it has ever been (Scherman, 2017). It is predicted the United States will become a majority-minority nation in 2043. The number of individuals who belonging to two or more races will triple by 2060. The growth of minority populations reflects the significance of employing and retaining a diverse healthcare workforce. Transcultural nursing focuses on the cultural care beliefs, values, and practices of individual culturesRead MoreBlood Transfusions And Its Effects On The Body2121 Words   |  9 Pages Blood Transfusions Blood transfusions are a lifesaving method that are becoming more and more common. Aaron Dunnagan is perfect example of how they are lifesaving. Two years ago when he was 34 years old, Aaron experienced one of the most rare blood disorders called Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP). TTP is when you have blood clots that from in your blood vessels therefore causing lack of oxygen to get to your organs (Dunnagan). What’s frightening about TTP is that you are not born withRead MoreAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ( Aids )1190 Words   |  5 Pagesof certain body fluids, including semen, vaginal fluid, blood, and breast milk. Although other body fluids such as sweat, tears, saliva, urine, and feces may contain HIV, the virus exist in such low concentrations that the transmitting of the disease through these would be completely ineffective. The most common means of transmission is through vaginal and anal sex. It is also possible to transmit through oral sex, although it is less common. There is a higher risk of acquiring an HIV infection