what are platelets?
Platelets are tiny blood cells that help the blood to clot. They are made by the bone marrow (the spongy material inside our bones) and each platelet lives for about 7-10 days before being destroyed by the spleen or used to clot the blood.
why might I need a platelet transfusion?
Sometimes the number of platelets in the blood is lower than normal. This might be because of illness (like leukaemia) or it can be a side effect of chemo. If your bone marrow is not working normally, the 'platelet count' (number of platelets in your blood) may drop. Signs of a low platelet count include nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy periods, bruising and tiny blood spots on the skin.
Your doctor will check your platelet count regularly and will be aware when it's falling. If your count is quite low then you might need a transfusion.
what's involved?
Platelets are stored in small plastic bags, which hold about 100ml of fluid; they are known as 'units'. Each unit has platelets given by 3-5 different people. The transfusion is given in a drip (infusion) into a needle which is placed in a vein in the back of your arm or hand. If you have a central line or PICC line then you'll have your transfusion through that.
The unit of platelets is connected by a tube to the needle in your arm (or your central line). It takes about 15-30 minutes to give and usually you'll only need 1 or 2 units to prevent or stop bleeding. As it only takes a short while to give a platelet transfusion you can have this treatment as an outpatient.
are there any side effects?
It's not common to have side effects from a platelet transfusion but sometimes people can experience things like itching, rashes, shivering and a high temperature. A nurse will check on you during the transfusion; let them know if you have any side effects and they can give you medicines to help.
are platelet transfusions safe?
Sometimes people worry that they might get an infection from platelets donated by someone else. All platelet donations are screened really thoroughly to check for infections such as HIV, hepatitis and malaria before they're used. Also there have been no reports of CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) infection due to blood or platelet transfusion. The platelets are not given to a patient until all tests from the blood are found to be negative. This means that the risk of infection is extremely small.
