Use of blood and blood products

Blood transfusions are required when hemorrhage or selective erythrocyte de struction (with subsequent loss of erythrocyte mass) results in clinical si gns of diminished oxygen carrying capacity and acute anemic hypoxia. Plasma transfusions are required in severe hypoproteinemic conditions or when fai lure of passive transfer of maternal antibody (FPTA) occurs in the neonate. In addition, blood component transfusions may also be required to treat de creases in specific plasma proteins, clotting factors, platelets, or leukoc ytes. Much of the information presented in this article has been obtained f rom the horse or dog, so some extrapolation from other species is necessary .