Posts Tagged ‘Loss Of Blood’

Artificial Blood

Comments: 0March 3rd, 2011 by admin



Better known as blood surrogates/substitutes, artificial blood serves two main purposes like filling the fluid volume and carry oxygen and other gases in blood through the entire cardiovascular system. It should be noted that nothing could replace the human blood since it performs innumerable other functions apart from these. So the accurate term for the product performing first function could be volume expanders and the gas carriers could be named Oxygen therapeutics.

In simple words, Volume expanders are certain passive materials which raise the blood quantity. They are of two types, mainly colloid based like Voluven, Haemaccel, gelofusin etc. and crystalloid based where Ringer’s lactate, normal saline are examples. The case of Oxygen Therapeutics, they function as a substitute for the oxygen carrying ability of the body fluid. Common examples are Hemopure, Oxygent, PolyHeme and Perftoran. Depending on the mode of the transport mechanism, Oxygen therapeutics fall into two main streams called per fluorocarbon based and hemoglobin based.

Volume expanders are common and easily obtained in markets and they are mainly used for first aid and in case of trauma. Consider the case of trauma and when there is a loss of blood, there arises a necessity to prevent blood loss. Another requirement is the substitution of lost amount of body fluid. And the remaining RBC’s can provide oxygen for the tissues.

Oxygen Therapeutics is employed to imitate the oxygen carrying ability of normal blood. But the modern science find it difficult to develop a completely efficient therapeutic and hence two fundamental approaches has been installed to assemble an oxygen therapeutic. Now, per fluorocarbons (PFCs) a chemical compound that transports and gives out oxygen is made use of. The frequently used PFC is per fluorodecalin. Their main property is that it will not get assorted with blood and hence there arises a need to produce emulsions that are made by dispersing minute droplets of PFC in water. This emulsion is then mixed with antibiotics, vitamins, nutrients and also salts, thus making an emulsion that consists of some 80 different types of constituents and that will perform a lot of the important purposes of body fluid. They are just 1/40 the size of the diameter of the Red Blood Cells and this minute structure will help them to seep into the very minute and dead capillaries where normal blood flow is almost absent. The per fluorocarbon solutions can transport oxygen; hence the mammals and human beings could survive by just breathing the liquid per fluorocarbon solution, termed the liquid breathing.

It is to be noted that 33% of the entire Red blood cell mass is consisted by the Hemoglobin. The Hemoglobin-associated materials are termed HBOCs (Hemoglobin Based Oxygen Carriers). As red blood cell contains certain other substances other than the hemoglobin it is quite difficult to extract hemoglobin alone from blood. If used, it will end up in a condition called renal toxicity which could be considered fatal. By making use of the following processes like self linking, polymerization and encapsulation hemoglobin could be extracted and could be used in a safer way too. Fluosol-DA-20, the only approved HBOC by Food and drug Administration, is now banned with its least success and the increase in the number of side effects.

The artificial blood seems advantageous in different walks of life. As discussed earlier, the small size of oxygen therapeutics will seem superior to normal body fluid and hence it could lessen the number of transfusions which is being increasing day by day.

If such a system is employed nobody needs to become much fearful about the hazards during a blood transfusion like the spreading of AIDS and anthrax viruses.

In case of trauma or in certain battlefields the blood surrogates or the blood substitutes find wide varieties of applications. In future, let’s hope that no patient dies due to unavailability of blood.

The main advantage of blood substitutes is that it could be stored for much longer time as compared to the transfused blood. It is capable of using at anytime with a tension free mind.

The major merit of artificial blood is that it supports instantaneous full capability for the transport of oxygen, a contradiction to blood which is transfused that need some 24 hours to arrive at complete oxygen transport ability because of the depletion of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.

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Posted in anemia

Osteomyelitis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Comments: 0February 17th, 2011 by admin



Osteomyelitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory process of the bone and its structures secondary to infection with pyogenic organisms. It can be usefully subclassifed on the basis of the causative organism, the route, duration and anatomic location of the infection. In kids and teens, osteomyelitis usually affects the long bones of the arms and legs. Bacteria can infect bones in a number of ways. Bacteria can travel into the bone through the bloodstream from other infected areas in the body. The infection that causes osteomyelitis often is in another part of the body and spreads to the bone via the blood. Affected bone may have been predisposed to infection because of recent trauma. The approach to osteomyelitis depends upon the route by which bacteria gained access to bone, bacterial virulence, local and systemic host immune factors, and patient age. Infections of the leg and arm bones and those of the vertebrae are usually acquired through the bloodstream. If left untreated, the infection can become chronic and cause a loss of blood supply to the affected bone. When this happens, it can lead to the eventual death of the bone tissue.

It is one of the more serious infections of childhood, and was once a major crippler of children in the days before antibiotics. People of any age can develop osteomyelitis, though it’s most common in children and people older than 50. The bacteria or fungus that can cause osteomyelitis, however, differs among age groups. In adults, osteomyelitis often affects the vertebrae and the pelvis. There are two forms of osteomyelitis – acute and chronic. Osteomyelitis may also occur where a piece of metal has been surgically attached to a bone, as is done to repair hip or other fractures. In addition, individuals with diabetes who develop foot ulcers are more susceptible. In any of these situations, the organism has a direct portal of entry into the affected bone. Osteomyelitis can affect both adults and children. People with osteomyelitis often feel severe pain in the infected bone. They may have fever and chills, feel tired or nauseated, or have a general feeling of not being well. The source of the blood infection is usually Staphylococcus aureus, although it may be caused by a different type of bacteria or fungal organism.

Causes of Osteomyelitis

The common causes and risk factor’s of Osteomyelitis include the following:

A result of an injury to the bone.

Intravenous drug users.

Prosthetic bone devices, such as screws, plates, or wires.

Poor circulation.

An infection in the body carried by the blood to the bone.

Artificial joints, such as a knee or hip.

Trauma to the skin or bones, such as surgery, deep skin cuts, and bone fractures or breaks.

Weakened immune system.

Fungal infection.

Symptoms of Osteomyelitis

Some sign and symptoms related to Osteomyelitis are as follows:

Pain in the bone.

Pus drainage on skin.

General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling ( malaise ).

Fever and chills.

Fatigue.

Sweating.

Recurrent bone pain.

Weight loss.

Muscle spasm.

Ongoing, severe back pain that is worse with movement.

Treatment of Osteomyelitis

Here is list of the methods for treating Osteomyelitis:

Antibiotics will be given to destroy the bacteria that are causing the infection.

Bone grafting.

If antibiotic treatment fails, the infection may need to be surgically removed. Surgery may include draining the infection, removing infected bone and rebuilding the spine.

A new prosthesis may be implanted in the same operation or delayed until the infection has resolved, depending on its severity.

Hyperbaric oxygen.

Spinal instrumentation and fusion may be used to correct spinal deformity and provide permanent stability to the spinal column.

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Low Blood Pressure Can Be Serious

Comments: 0December 28th, 2009 by admin



When the blood presses against the walls of the arteries, it is called blood pressure. Blood pressure derives from two different things. The force of the arteries as they resist the blood and when the heart pumps blood into the arteries and through the circulatory system. Blood pressure readings can change very quickly depending on the time of day, what you have eaten and stress levels.

Many people are concerned with having high blood pressure but if your blood pressure is to low you may experience some scary symptoms such as blurred vision, nausea, dizziness and fainting. Doctors usually consider low pressure as having a healthy cardiovascular system so if you don’t experience any symptoms then there is usually no need to worry. It is not normal for blood pressure to drop suddenly and can be dangerous because it could indicate a serious problem.

The body has to have a certain amount of fluid to function normally. You can lose too much fluid from a stomach flu that causes severe vomiting or diarrhea. Taking diuretics can cause an excessive loss of fluid. Sweating for a long period of time can also cause fluid levels in the body to drop. If you don’t maintain enough fluid then dehydration can occur and cause blood pressure to drop too low. Allergic reactions to food, bees or medicines can cause a severe drop in your blood pressure as well. Anything that would cause an extreme loss of blood or infections that get into the bloodstream and produce toxins or form bacteria can make blood pressure plummet.

Anemia is from a low blood count that can be brought on by excessive bleeding or iron deficiency. Low blood pressure can accompany anemia especially when you change positions from sitting to standing. If you’re not eating a healthy diet, not only will your iron levels be affected but you may not be getting enough nutrients to maintain a normal blood pressure. Drugs such as heart medicines, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety and alcohol can also disturb your blood pressure by making it low. Tell your doctor if you experience alarming symptoms while on medicine. He might want to change your dose.

Low blood pressure without symptoms doesn’t need treatment. If is coming from a medicine and the adjusted dose doesn’t help you need to completely stop the medicine. In order for your doctor to accurately determine the exact cause tests will need to be done. Blood tests will identify problems such as anemia and low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Heart tests can reveal any abnormalities with your heart and make sure your heart muscle is receiving enough blood and oxygen. Other tests are valsalva maneuver and tilt-table. One option to bring your pressure up is to increase the salt in your diet but don’t overdo it unless you talk to your doctor. There are some natural treatments you could also try if your blood pressure is mildly low and if you have moderate symptoms. Doctors usually agree that people with low blood pressure live longer then people with high blood pressure.

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Diet For Iron Deficiency Anemia

Comments: 0August 1st, 2009 by admin



An insufficient number of red blood cells or an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the red cells is considered anemia. The most common symptoms of anemia are: lack of energy, a tendency to tire quickly, and low resistance to colds and other infections.

There are various causes of anemia. Anemia may be produced by other dis

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Is it Natural for Pregnant Women to Have Anemia During Pregnancy?

Comments: 0July 23rd, 2009 by admin



Why do most women have an anemia? Most of the mothers are affected with iron deficiency anemia due to excessive loss of blood during giving birth, menstruation and other factors like miscarriage, bleeding from the stomach, or having cancer or a parasite like hookworm. Menstrual bleeding and giving birth may reduce the iron stored in the body.

Human bodies need minerals and vitamins to function properly. Therefore, a body may not function properly, it only produce too small amount red blood cells because the iron is lacking.

Women need to take 15 milligrams of iron daily as compared to men that need only 10 milligrams. Pregnant mothers need more iron than the normal because both mother and fetus uses iron. The fetus needs iron for the development of its red blood cells and muscle.

Iron is a chief element in making hemoglobin and red blood cells and plays an important role in order for the body to function properly. Iron is needed to help the red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the entire body.

A body gets more iron from the food you eat if you have less iron stored. But if the body already has more iron stored, its absorption will decrease. One of the reasons other women have iron deficiency anemia is that they suffered from crhon or celiac disease – the inability of the small intestine to absorb iron from the food they eat.

Women who have iron deficiency anemia feel they are weak and tired, have swelling of the tongue, look pale, and are irritable. But women cannot diagnose that they have iron deficiency because they think it is normal to experience weakness and tired after long hours of work.

What should women do to avoid or prevent anemia? Women are advised to take vitamins that contain iron to replace the iron loss during menstruation, giving birth or any situation in which a women loses blood.

They should eat nutritious foods like red meat, liver, raisins, spinach, broccoli, some fish, beans, dried fruit and egg yolks with adequate iron content so that body have a lot of iron to sustain. It is also recommended that they eat cereals that are fortified with iron.

Consult a physician for appropriate treatment to reduce or prevent the effect of anemia. Doctors can recognize a decrease level of hemoglobin and recommend the right amount of iron to take. Too much iron can cause heart and liver damage. Iron deficiency anemia if not treated will become worse.

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Posted in anemia