Who should receive a blood transfusion?

Individuals who may require blood transfusion include those with acute massive blood loss, severe anemia, coagulation disorders, severe infections, or bone marrow failure. Transfusions must strictly follow medical indications to avoid unnecessary or inappropriate administration. If symptoms such as worsening dizziness and fatigue, vomiting blood, passing black stools, or significant traumatic bleeding occur, immediate medical evaluation for potential transfusion should be sought.

1. Acute massive blood loss: In cases of severe trauma, major surgical bleeding, or gastrointestinal hemorrhage leading to a rapid decrease in blood volume and signs of shock, emergency blood transfusion is required to restore blood volume and maintain stable vital signs.

2. Severe anemia: When hemoglobin levels fall below 60 g/L, or when significant symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or fainting are present and cannot be rapidly corrected with medication, blood transfusion is necessary to alleviate tissue hypoxia.

3. Coagulation disorders: Patients with conditions such as hemophilia or severe liver disease that result in deficiency of clotting factors, or those with severely low platelet counts causing spontaneous bleeding, require transfusion of clotting factors, platelets, or other blood components to control bleeding.

4. Severe infection: In cases of severe bacterial infection leading to septic shock unresponsive to conventional treatment, transfusion of packed red blood cells or plasma may help improve oxygen delivery and immune function, supporting infection control.

5. Bone marrow failure: In diseases such as aplastic anemia or leukemia where bone marrow hematopoietic function is lost and insufficient blood cells are produced, long-term regular blood transfusions are needed to sustain life while awaiting recovery of hematopoiesis or eligibility for transplantation.

Prior to transfusion, patients must undergo blood typing and cross-matching tests. During transfusion, close monitoring of physical responses is essential. After transfusion, adequate rest should be ensured, strenuous activity avoided, and diet enriched with protein and iron to promote recovery.