Functions
Blood is the biological fluid in our body that transports nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and also exports the metabolic waste product away from the cells. To ensure the supply of oxygen needed by our organs and tissues, there are four important steps:
1. The oxygen must be transferred from our lungs into the blood plasma
2. The oxygen is stored on the hemoglobin in the red cells
3. The oxygen is transported to our body cells via circulation.
4. The oxygen is released from the blood to the cells. [the clinical use of blood, general medicine]
Blood also has other functions like:
• immunological functions, this are related to the circulation of the white cells;
• coagulation, which is process to stop bleeding and represents …show more content…
These inherited antigenic substances may represent proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids or carbohydrate; this depends on the system of blood group. The blood group is inherited and has contributions from both parents. The International Society of Blood Transfusion or ISBT recognizes a total of 35 human blood group systems. ABO and RhD antigen group systems are the most important ones. Someone can have A, B, AB or O group with + or – representing RhD antigen status. In 1900 Karl Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood group system, but Jan Jansky is one credited as the first who classified blood into the four groups in 1907. In the same year, the first transfusion was performed, using the ABO group system for compatibility prediction. Later, in 1937 the Rhesus factor (RhD) was discovered. [wiki, blood and blood …show more content…
2 Prescribing should be based on national guidelines on the clinical use of blood, taking individual patient needs into account.
3 Blood loss should be minimized to reduce the patient’s need for transfusion. 4 The patient with acute blood loss should receive effective resuscitation
(intravenous replacement fluids, oxygen, etc.) while the need for transfusion is being assessed.
5 The patient’s hemoglobin value, although important, should not be the sole deciding factor in starting transfusion. This decision should be supported by the need to relieve clinical signs and symptoms and prevent significant morbidity or mortality.
6 The clinician should be aware of the risks of transfusion-transmissible infections in the blood products that are available for the individual patient. 7 Transfusion should be prescribed only when the benefits to the patient are likely to outweigh the risks.
8 The clinician should record the reason for transfusion clearly.
9 A trained person should monitor the transfused patient and respond immediately if any adverse effects occur.“ [the clinical use of blood, the appropriate use of