All the "Q & A" below may be formed out of wrong conceptions.... please read it very carefully and do the necessary changes.
Q. Special problems faced in an apheresis donation?
A. Even if the weight is above eligibility (60 kgs +) and still, if the platelet counts are low on that day, the donor fails the final eligibility test and cant donate. Another problem with apheresis is that the process of donation takes a longer time that a normal donation.
Q. Worst case condition?
A. Patients often shiver during donations.
If calcium tablets are not given, the donor may feel a tingling sensation and his lips may get dry and blackened.
It pains when the other components (except the one to be extracted) are transfused back into the veins of the donor.
Q. Why are the calcium tablets given?
A. As anticoagulant is given to the donor’s body along with the returning of blood into the veins, vitamin C amount increases in the donor’s body and sometimes the donor has a tingling feel. To overcome this, vitamin C tablets are given.
Q. Special pre/post donation cares to be added?
A. Pre donation: Fill up the special form on apheresis.
Post donation: Not to take juices, milk products and tea.
Q. How often can someone donate under the
process of apheresis?
A. Because platelets are quickly
replenished by our body, a donor can donate platelets as frequently as every 48
hours, but no more than 24 times a year. Additional restrictions vary, however,
depending on the donation centre, type of procedure used, and blood donation history.
Bruising and Fainting:
As with whole blood donation, bruising or fainting can occur.
Action required:
Take action as in case of normal blood donation
Loss of Some Blood
Each time you donate, 30-40ml of blood is lost for sampling and in the tubing. Your blood will be tested at every visit to make sure you are not anaemic and to check your platelet count.
Action required:
Person must not donate whole blood for next 3 months to be on safest side
Tingling Sensation
To avoid clotting during the donation an anticoagulant is automatically added as your blood flows into the machine. A small proportion of this citrate solution is returned to you and mixed with your own red cells. Although it is immediately neutralized on return to you, occasionally it can cause a tingling sensation around the mouth and fingers, or a metallic taste or feeling of vibration.
This is not dangerous and provided you inform the staff supervising the donation, it is easily overcome by adjusting the machine settings.
Action required:
This can easily be prevented by giving tablets of Calcium at regular intervals during SDP.
In case the problem starts, the staff must be informed who will adjust machine to ensure that citrate is not returned to body un-neutralised.
Feeling Cold
Very occasionally some donors remark that their arm feels cold when the red cells are returned but the majority of donors have no sensation of the blood being returned at all.
Action required:
Give them a sheet if they request
Equippment Faliure
As with all automated equipment, the cell separator machine may, occasionally not operate properly. But these machines have comprehensive fail safe devices to protect donors. If a machine does fail, one possibility is that the blood left in the machine will not be returned to you. The maximum you would lose in this event, is equivalent to half a blood donation and is therefore quite harmless. However you may have to wait for 2 months before you can donate platelets again due to the red cells lost.
Action required:
Comfort and re-assure
Pain
Donor may complain of slight pain in the arm while the blood returns
No action required
Restlessness
Donor may get restless due to the long duration of donation
Action required:
Try talking about general things to divert attention
If donor is accompanied by someone, you may request the person to come and be with the donor
Sources:
http://www.nzblood.co.nz/site_resources/PDF_Documents/dnr_apheresis_don…
http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/platelets.html