The medical procedure of blood transfusion is critical. Surprisingly, it is performed to save many lives in multiple healthcare situations. The implications are complex and thus require careful consideration, especially regarding heart health. Yes, Blood Transfusion is certainly life-saving, but like other medical procedures, it has a set of risks. Some of these tend to raise the development of heart attack symptoms.
So, let’s find out how blood transfusion can impact cardiovascular health. Patients and their loved ones can take quick, necessary actions by becoming aware of these risks.
Why is Heart at Risk During Blood Transfusion?
Hyperkalemia
It is a condition that increases the potassium level in the bloodline. This happens when the blood is transfused from damaged or older red blood cells. Therefore, the quality of red blood cells plays a major role here. Older red blood cells become prone to rupture and release potassium in the plasma.
This is how a heart attack occurs: The increased potassium level interferes with heart signals. Gradually, this leads to potential threats to heart arrhythmias. The disruptions cause irregular heartbeats, palpitations, and even complete heart blockage. Patients in need of blood transfusion should consult with healthcare providers, especially if they have a medical history of existing heart conditions.
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia is a condition that is created by Citrate. This, too, links with the blood transfusion process. Hypocalcemia happens when there is a significant drop in calcium levels in the plasma. This happens when citrate is used in the blood. Citrate is a form of preservative used to store blood. When blood is transfused to a patient’s body, the citrate in the blood pouch tends to bind with calcium in the recipient’s system. This prevents blood clotting, and thus, the calcium level starts dropping.
Similar to hyperkalemia, decreased levels of calcium can cause heart arrhythmias. Pre-heart attack symptoms include muscle cramps, dizziness and irregular heartbeats. Patients with a history of cardiac problems must report to the healthcare providers.
Mortality Risk Post Blood Transfusion
The procedures of blood transfusion are associated with increased mortality rates, especially after a cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that patients in need of blood transfusion after myocardial infarction become susceptible to various risks like:
- Increasing the risk of a heart attack in future.
- Increasing the chances of mortality rates.
The pieces of evidence demonstrate that patients become susceptible to death compared to those who haven’t received a transfusion after a heart attack. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent these silent heart attack symptoms through careful evaluation before going for a blood transfusion.
How to Prevent Heart Attack Post-Transfusion?
Health experts recommend cross-matching the patient with the donor blood to eliminate or reduce the adverse effects of transfusion. This is how to avoid heart attacks for patients with existing cardiac events. Cross-matching can be done a few days or at least hours beforehand to determine the blood condition. Note that this process does not apply to the transfusion of platelets or plasma. During cross-matching, the blood bank experts mix a few drops of blood from both ends to check for any reaction.
Other Risks of Blood Transfusion
Apart from cardiological troubles, other risks are associated with blood transfusion. These are:
- Allergic Reactions: This is rare, but some patients experience rash, itching, and breathing trouble.
- Nausea: Some patients experience dizziness and excessive sleep post-transfusion. Therefore, healthcare providers should closely monitor these issues to prevent them from occurring again.
- Infectious Disease: Transfusions have a minor risk of transmitting infectious maladies. Even after following proper safety protocols and rigorous screening, the possibility peeps out. Some of them are:
- Bacterial infections like sepsis and similar complications.
- Viral infections like hepatitis B, C and HIV.
Patients should be encouraged to discuss these concerns with a certified, trusted healthcare provider to prevent such risks.
Conclusion
Blood transfusion is a lifesaving procedure but should be administered with utmost caution. Considering cardiovascular health, patients must be made aware of these potential dangers. A thorough discussion with the medical team is crucial before undergoing a blood transfusion.