Scientists have made a discovery among the potential for an increased risk of fatality among traumatic brain injury patients who suffer from a TBI incident and then receive blood transfusion, which is a common practice in treating brain injured victims.
The commonplace practice of using blood transfusions among traumatic brain injury patients has recently met controversy following reports from the National Anemia Action Council (NAAC) that the practice may actually increase the risk of fatality among patients. Additionally, the NAAC reported that "composite complication including multi-organ failure" may also occur among patients receiving the treatment method.
The study, which lasted over a seven-year period, found that of the 1,150 TBI patients, approximately 76 percent were found to be anemic at some time period during their first week after administration to the hospital because of their TBI incident. The anemic group was said to have increased complications compared to non-anemic patients and of the "anemic group, 76 percent received blood transfusions during their first week and the transfusion in this group was associated with more complications and a higher mortality rate than patients who were not transfused."
According to the study’s results, the scientists recommended that "both anemia and transfusion should be assessed together in TBI patients since in some subgroups the risk of anemia may overshadow that of transfusion," according to an article published in a Jan. 7 issue of PubMed.
Blood Transfusion Uncovered
Blood transfusion is considered a safe and life saving procedure in which "blood is given to you through an intravenous (IV) line in one of your blood vessels and blood transfusions are conducted to replace blood lost during surgery or a serious injury," according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
The American Cancer Society reports that there are no man-made alternatives to blood, but the following could be considered several alternatives to blood transfusions:
* erythropoietin
* collect and reuse of blood, also known as intra-operative or post-operative
* blood substitutes
* growth factors, including the production of substances known as hematopoietic or blood forming growth factors, which produce extra blood naturally within the body
* volume expanders
Overcoming TBI
Individuals who suffer from a traumatic brain injury incident may be able to garner a free legal consultation from an experienced personal injury attorney that can provide details surrounding a TBI lawsuit. It may be necessary to contact a traumatic brain injury law firm to obtain details surrounding a TBI lawsuit, which may offer monetary compensation as a reward for damages endured.
By discussing a potential case with a traumatic brain injury lawyer, an individual is protecting him or herself from the dangers of litigation that may arise.
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