An exchange transfusion requires that the patient's blood can be removed and replaced. In most cases, this involves placing one or more thin tubes, called catheters, into a blood vessel. The exchange transfusion is done in cycles: each one usually lasts a few minutes.
The patient’s blood is slowly withdrawn (usually about 5 to 20 mL at a time, depending on the patient’s size and the severity of illness), and a slightly larger amount of fresh, prewarmed blood or plasma flows into the patient's body. This cycle is repeated until the correct volume of blood has been replaced.
After the exchange transfusion, catheters may be left in place in case the procedure needs to be repeated.
In conditions such as neonatal polycythemia, a specific amount of the child’s blood is removed and replaced with normal saline, plasma (the clear liquid portion of blood), or an albumin solution. This decreases the total number of red blood cells in the body and makes it easier for blood to flow through the body.
The commonest emergency reason is to treat an acute chest syndrome.
The most common routine reason is to prevent a stroke occurring or re-occurring.
General risks are the same as with any transfusion. Other possible complications include:
The person may need to be monitored for several days in the hospital after the transfusion, but the length of stay generally depends on the condition for which the exchange transfusion was performed. Sickle Cell Disease patients may be exchanged in an outpatient setting and can be sent home the very same day.
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Davis, Bernard A.; Allard, Shubha; Qureshi, Amrana; Porter, John B.; Pancham, Shivan; Win, Nay; Cho, Gavin; Ryan, Kate (2017). "Guidelines on red cell transfusion in sickle cell disease. Part I: principles and laboratory aspects". British Journal of Haematology. 176 (2): 179–191. doi:10.1111/bjh.14346. ISSN 1365-2141. PMID 28092109. S2CID 3462324. https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fbjh.14346
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