Whole blood

Whole blood
A Red Cross whole blood donation
Clinical data
Routes of
administration		IV
ATC code
Identifiers
ChemSpider
  • none

Whole blood (WB) is human blood from a standard blood donation.[1] It is used in the treatment of massive bleeding, in exchange transfusion, and when people donate blood to themselves.[1][2] One unit of whole blood (approximately 450 mL) brings up hemoglobin levels by about 10 g/L.[3][4] Cross matching is typically done before the blood is given.[2][5] It is given by injection into a vein.[6]

Side effects include red blood cell breakdown, high blood potassium, infection, volume overload, lung injury, and allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.[2][3] Whole blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and blood plasma.[3] It is best within a day of collection; however, can be used for up to three weeks.[3][5][7] The blood is typically combined with an anticoagulant and preservative during the collection process.[8]

The first transfusion of whole blood was in 1818; however, common use did not begin until the First and Second World Wars.[5][9] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[10][11] In the 1980s the cost of whole blood was about US$50 per unit in the United States.[12] Whole blood is not commonly used outside of the developing world and military.[2] It is used to make a number of blood products including packed red blood cells, platelet concentrate, cryoprecipitate, and fresh frozen plasma.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Hess JR, Beyer GM (2007). "Red Blood Cell Metabolism During Storage: Basic Principles and Practical Aspects". In Hillyer CD (ed.). Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine: Basic Principles & Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 190. ISBN 978-0443069819. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12.
  2. ^ a b c d Connell NT (December 2016). "Transfusion Medicine". Primary Care. 43 (4): 651–659. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2016.07.004. PMID 27866583.
  3. ^ a b c d Plumer AL (2007). "Transfusion Therapy". Plumer's Principles and Practice of Intravenous Therapy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 422. ISBN 9780781759441. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12.
  4. ^ Woodson LC, Sherwood ER, Kinsky MP, Talon M, Martinello C, Woodson SM (2012). "Anesthesia for burned patients". In Herndon DN (ed.). Total Burn Care: Expert Consult - Online and Print. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 194. ISBN 9781455737970.
  5. ^ a b c Bahr MP, Yazer MH, Triulzi DJ, Collins RA (December 2016). "Whole blood for the acutely haemorrhaging civilian trauma patient: a novel idea or rediscovery?". Transfusion Medicine. 26 (6): 406–414. doi:10.1111/tme.12329. PMID 27357229. S2CID 24552025.
  6. ^ Flagg C (2015). "Intravenous Therapy". In Linton AD (ed.). Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 287. ISBN 9781455776412. Archived from the original on 2017-09-14.
  7. ^ Marini JF, Wheeler AP (2012). "Blood Conservation and Transfusion". Critical Care Medicine: The Essentials (4th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 267. ISBN 9781451152845. Archived from the original on 2017-01-11.
  8. ^ Rudmann SV, ed. (2005). "Donor Screening and Blood Collection". Textbook of Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 205. ISBN 072160384X. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12.
  9. ^ Tanaka K (2012). "Transfusion and Coagulation Therapy". In Hemmings HC, Egan TD (eds.). Pharmacology and Physiology for Anesthesia: Foundations and Clinical Application. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 628. ISBN 978-1455737932. Archived from the original on 2017-01-11.
  10. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  11. ^ World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.
  12. ^ "Introduction and Summary". Blood policy & technology. DIANE Publishing. 1985. p. 8. ISBN 9781428923331. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12.