Therapeutic
Phlebotomy
Therapeutic phlebotomy is a medical procedure in which blood is removed from the body to treat certain blood disorders.
Disorders Treated With Therapeutic Phlebotomy
Hereditary/Acquired Hemochromatosis – patients with too much iron in their blood.
Polycythemia vera – Increased bone marrow that can lead to higher blood viscosity which may cause problems with clotting.
Sickle cell disease – Red blood cells that tend to be misshapen or break down easily.
Porphyria – Too much porphyrin in the blood which can affect the nervous system causing gastrointestinal pain or affect the skin.
There is no cure for many of the conditions treated. Most patients have to go through the procedure many times in their lifetime. It is a management tool. A prescription can be issued by a physician or you can request it yourself.
Benefits of Therapeutic Phlebotomy
Therapeutic phlebotomy is used to correct imbalances in your blood that cause illness. The goal is to restore blood levels to the expected values.
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Helps clear your circulatory system.
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Gives your spleen a break.
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It can remove toxins from your blood.
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It can stimulate your bone marrow
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It can make the patient feel better in general.
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Often aids in sleeping
Possible Side Effects
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Nausea
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Dizziness
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Vomiting
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Bruising
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Pain at the injection site
Many of these side effects are the same after someone donates blood. It is important for the patient to eat something (including protein) before and after the procedure. They should also be well-hydrated.
How Therapeutic Phlebotomy Is Done
Therapeutic phlebotomy can be performed at a physician's office, or a specialized facility.
Depending on how much blood is taken, the procedure can take an hour or less. Therapeutic phlebotomy is typically performed over several sessions. In between, blood tests are performed to see if levels have normalized.
Therapeutic phlebotomy may be performed daily or every other day for acute treatment. Maintenance treatments may be performed weekly, monthly, quarterly, or as needed depending on your blood results. Some cases, like acquired hemochromatosis, may not require follow-up treatments.
The procedure itself is more or less the same irrespective of the disease involved:
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You will lie down on an examining table or sit back on a reclining chair.
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The phlebotomist checks your pulse and blood pressure.
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A needle is placed in a vein in your arm, which is connected to a tube and collection bag.
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Between 250 and 500 cubic centimeters of blood is extracted. Around a pint
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The same amount of fluids is replaced either by mouth or into your vein.
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Once enough blood is collected, the phlebotomist removes the needle and bandages the wound.
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The blood is usually discarded.
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