Pros and cons of blood transfusions in neonates
The medical world isn’t what it used to be. Neonates’ health is at a much higher risk to receive a transfusion because of their size and age. An adult’s immune system is better developed than an infant.
A blood transfusion is risky for anyone, no matter what the age. The risks are not as a great as they once were. Teams of doctors have undergone procedures and tests to prevent the blood transfusion from being contaminated. The chance of contamination is very slim to none.
What are the pros and cons for a neonate to receive a blood transfusion? Are the pros more common than the cons? Or vice versa?
Pros – A blood transfusion can save a life. A little bit or a lot of blood can improve a life of a child. Donated blood is given during a surgery to help give the patient a fighting chance to survive.
Cons – Viruses can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. Viruses that can be transmitted during a blood transfusion are parasitic infections and blood diseases such as AIDS or HIV. A slight fever may arise afterwards. This is a less serious effect of a blood transfusion.
Neonates are more subject to infections. Blood transfusions are designed to replace loss of blood during a surgery. The loss of blood could be from the actual surgery or from an accident. A neonate’s immune system is not fully developed. Adults can fight infections off easier than a neonate.
Technology has improved our medicine and how we do things in the medical world. There are more pros to a neonate receiving a blood transfusion. Blood is processed and diseases are not transmitted to the neonate.
Neonatal patients are intensively monitored after a blood transfusion. The body may react negatively to the transfusion. The body works in mysterious ways. An adult goes through intensive monitoring as well. Patients are treated with care and respect no matter the circumstances. You can never be too careful when receiving donated blood from an unknown source.
As a parent of a neonate who is in need of a blood transfusion has no time to think of the dangers of receiving the transfusion. All you can think about is saving your child and nothing else. Your child’s well being is your first priority.