BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 126, 27 April 1940, Page 11

BLOOD TRANSFUSION

WORK OF NATIONAL SERVICE. ADDRESS TO LUNCH CLUB. Interesting facts about blood transfusions generally were given by Dr. T. H. Pullar, of the Palmerston North Hospital, in an address on the National Blood Transfusion Service to the Citizens’ Lunch Club yesterday. Blood transfusions were very much in the news at the present time, said Dr. Pullar, especially because of the war. Even in peacetime a very large number of patients had to have such transfusions. The organisation which looked after the supply of blood donors was called the National Blood Transfusion Service. All men who enlisted in the Forces were now tested to see to which blood group they belonged. A record was kept, and the men might be asked to give blood to the wounded. As the blood group of the men was known they could also be given transfusions with the minimum of delay. The grouping was a very important preparation, as it might be the only means of saving a man’s life. In England testing of civilians had also been carried out, with a view to building up a reserve in a case of emergency. If there was an air raid it might be necessary to carry out transfusions on a large scale, and the normal number of donors would prove inadequate. The service in Now Zealand was conducted on a purely voluntary basis. Hospitals used to have to pay for blood, and donors received two or three guineas for a transfusion. This was not an entirely satisfactory system as the commercial spirit came into it at times. With the voluntary system the donors received no payment. There was a common belief that the donor must bo of good physique and of a very high standard of health. This was not altogether true. Any normal person in good health could give transfusions. Sex did not matter either, although men were generally preferred to women, because the veins in their arms were more prominent. Age also was not important, and there was one woman in the Palmerston North lists of donors who was nearly 80 years old. In the Spanish war many hundreds of blood transfusions were given in Barcelona alone, and practically all of those wore given by women, as the men were away fighting. The donor might experience some feeling of dizziness or faintness at the time “of the transfusion, said Dr. Pullar. The donor was usually kept lying down for half an hour afterwards, if possible, but some could get up and go away immediately. No ease was recorded of ill-effects arising to donors after transfusions, and if some slight inconvenience was caused it was outweighed by the benefits given, to patients. It was a rule that relatives of patients should lie asked to give transfusions first, but sometimes the relatives were not available, were not suitable, or for other reasons could not give transfusions, so that others thus nail to be called in. Tile donor and the recipient would probably not see each oilier at all. The blood might even be kept for some time before being given to the patient. Storing of the blood was becoming increasingly important. J ll Russia blood was even taken from corpses and kept for an emergency. This idea was rather repugnant to others, and outside Russia nothing had been done in this direction. In America, however, there were blood banks, where an accurate account was kept, as in proper banks, of what came in, what came out and the balance in band. There was a general opinion that stored blood was not quite so good as lrcsh blood. The beneficial effects of blood transfusions on patients was quite startling, said Dr. Pullar. They did ail amazing amount of good, especially where a great deal of blood had boon lost. Ibe patient felt and looked much better, and was generally restored to health. Jn many cases the transfusions shortened the period of convalescence very materially. They also made possible surgical operations on sonic patients who otherwise would not be aolc to submit to them. The sneaker concluded by describing the four blood groups and the uses of blood grouping, not only for transfusions, but in criminal and legal cases. lie asked for further donors to offer their services in Palmerston North. Dr. Pullar was accorded a vote ol thanks on the motion of the chairman (Mr J. A. Colqiihoun). SERVICE TO HOSPITAL. “The Voluntary Blood Transfusion Service has gradually grown since its establishment some three years ago, stated Mr J. H. North, medical superintendent at the Palmerston North Hospital, in his report which was received at the annual meeting of the Hospital Board. “During the past year 99 transfusions were given in Palmerston North bv members of this service—l 4 to ents in private hospitals and 85 to patients in the Public Hospital. The service lias functioned very satisfactorily. Blood donors can be obtained for urgent cases with the minimum ol delay. “It may be mentioned in passing that one of these donors, while himself a patient in the Hospital, gave a blood transfusion to an urgent case. Hie blood, of course, being obtained immediately. This must be nearly a record for a speedy reply from the blood transfusion service. This service is an entirely voluntary one and I must pay a tribute to the excellent service provided by the members of the service. “More donors are required, particularly due to the loss of members due to enlistment. The Hospital is indebted to the honorary secretary (Air (J. (1. Priest) for bis excellent organisation of the Manawatu branch of the Blood Transfusion Service “The number of blood transfusions has increased rapidly during the past few rears Jn 1937-38 there were 35; in 1938-39. 7S: in 1939-40. 143. Of the 143, 85 wore given by members of the Voluntary Blood Transfusion Service, the remaining 5S by relatives of the patients.”