rbc transfusion

[maueenh]

My father has been having weekly transfusion of rbc but they have only been giving him one bag due to limited availability (he is O negative). They only transfuse him if his hct is 24 or below. I know that the low end of normal is 42. What would one tx of rbc bring his level to? He still seems so sluggish after his tx. They said unless he has chest pain he is ok for a week. Sounds scary to me.

Maureen

[jaxem]

maureen
do they tx based upon hct or hemoglobin? 36 is our institutions’s low level for hct. i thought my wife got tx’d at the 0.8 hemoglobin level. 2 units usually last for two weeks while she’s on a drug like vidaza. is he sluggish the next day after tx when oral drugs have worn off?

[maueenh]

Jack,

Apparently they base it on hct. I’m sure two bags would make him feel much better. What oral drugs are you referring to?

Maureen

[jaxem]

maureen
institutions usually give benadryl or ativan, something that can take the edge off any reaction. my wife usually feels sluggish the same day as the hemoglobin tx but feels good the next day.

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