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Arun V. J.: Blood Transfusion Saves Lives – But Only When Used Appropriately
Arun V J/LinkedIn
Aug 2, 2026, 04:56

Arun V. J.: Blood Transfusion Saves Lives – But Only When Used Appropriately

Arun V. J., The Leader of Transfusion Medicine at Malabar Medical College, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Can Blood Transfusion Kill Your Patient?

Short answer: Yes… !!

Blood donation and transfusion are one of the safest procedures if you use it judicially. But when you view blood transfusion as a solution for a number of laboratory results, you can kill a patient.

So, how can an injudicious blood transfusion kill a patient?

  1. Wrong blood transfusion – Most preventable.
  2. Bacterial contamination of blood – stick to the protocols
  3. Hemolyzed or damaged blood -Improper storage and cold chain compromise
  4. TRALI (Transfusion Associated Lung Injury) – Can be fatal breathing complication
  5. Allergy or anaphylaxis – You can be allergic to anything, even blood from another person.
  6. Infections from blood transfusions (HIV, Hepatitis)
  7. TRIM (Transfusion Related Immunomodulation) – You are rewiring the entire immune system of your patient. It can even cause cancer recurrence.
  8. I usually write to promote blood donation. At the same time, I want to stress the hazards of unnecessary and outdated blood transfusion practices.
  • Systems prevent mistakes.
  • Dedicated doctors and technicians prevent deaths.
  • Keep learning.
  • Let us keep blood safe.

Read more about blood donation in my book: The Blood Book.”

Arun V. J.: Blood Transfusion Saves Lives - But Only When Used Appropriately

Find more posts featuring Arun V. J. on Hemostasis Today.

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