Blood Transfusion and Blood Components

An authoritative guide, translated from the Dutch original, to the clinically justified and safe use of specific blood components to meet specific clinical needs. Noting that blood transfusion can be a dangerous therapy, the book aims to help clinicians make transfusion decisions on the basis of the most complete and up-to-date knowledge about blood components, their clinical indications, and associated risks.

The book has ten chapters presented in two groups. Chapters in the first group describe the state-of-the-art in blood grouping and blood banking, concentrating on information relevant to safe transfusion practice. Chapters in the second group spell out the do's and don'ts of safe transfusion practice. Guidelines and advice are intended to help clinicians avoid unjustified transfusions, know when transfusion is clearly indicated, and then select the correct transfusion material with the correct component from the correct donor. Other chapters cover the prevention of transfusion reactions and the prevention of transfusion-transmissible disease. The remaining chapters provide a model transfusion policy for the emergency management of acute massive blood loss, and outline procedures for the use of exchange transfusion to treat haemolytic disease of the newborn.