Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood or blood products from one person to another through bloodstream or directly into the red bone marrow. The most common reasons for blood transfusions include: alleviating anemia, increasing blood volume, or improving immunity (Tortora & Derrickson). They are sometimes used in regard to many different illnesses, such as preventing complications associated with sickle disease (WebMD). In one particular scientific study, seventy patients participated with the intention of discovering if preoperative blood transfusions are beneficial with patients who have sickle cell disease.

Patients were randomly assigned no transfusion or transfusion no more than ten days before surgery. Sixty-seven of the seventy participants were accessed, thirty-three were not preoperative and thirty-four were. Sixty-seven patients had the hemoglobin SS subtype, and fifty-four were scheduled to undergo medium-risk surgery (PubMed).

The intent was to lower the amount of hemoglobin S red blood cells in the body by blood transfusion. When fewer hemoglobin S cells are in the bloodstream, they are less likely to build up and block blood vessels. Also, blood transfusion increases the number of normal red blood cells in the body, increasing the supply of oxygen to the body (WebMD).

In conclusion of the study, thirty-nine percent of patients who did not receive the preoperative blood transfusion reported clinically important complications. Only fifteen percent of patients receiving the treatment had complications. It could be determined that preoperative blood transfusions could be associated with decreased complications with people who have sickle cell disease. Blood transfusions might be beneficial to patients who have hemoglobin SS subtypes and are scheduled to undergo low risk or medium risk surgeries (PubMed).