Over two centuries have passed since an English doctor (a certain James Blundell) successfully performed the first arm-to-arm blood transfusion in 1818.
The donor and the recipient patient, who were husband and wife, had to remain close to each other for the entire duration of the operation.
Today, on the other hand, it is possible to collect blood, put it into a container with an anticoagulant, and store it until it is needed.
Indeed, there are diseases and particular conditions in which blood is a life-saving drug.
For blood diseases such as tumours, leukaemia and haemophilia, as well as serious accidents, certain operations and organ transplants, blood is irreplaceable.
It is also possible to transfuse blood fractions individually (red blood cell concentrates, platelets, and plasma) and today there is a tendency to favour this practice and limit whole blood transfusions to cases where it is indispensable.
In some cases, it is possible for patients to deposit their own blood prior to undergoing particularly demanding operations, e.g. heart surgery. This is referred to as autologous transfusion. Once the patient’s suitability has been assessed, blood is drawn in several sessions, and in sufficient quantities, to cover the estimated loss during the operation.