Advances in medicine have made it possible to manage certain conditions whose treatment posed a great challenge. Plasma exchange therapy, also known as plasmapheresis, is one of these advances. It involves getting rid of defective blood and replacing it with a functional one. In this procedure, entry to the system is accessed through a peripheral vein. A cannula connected to a catheter is inserted in to the vein. Once blood is drawn out, a special machine is used to separate the liquid part(plasma) from the cells. The cells are then mixed with new plasma and returned to the body.
One does not need to spend days in hospital for this procedure to be performed. In fact, no anesthesia is administered due to the simplicity of the process. However, some pain may be experienced in given situations particularly when access to veins is difficult either when they are too small or when they have collapsed because of dehydration. This is why the patient is advised to consume fluids in plenty. Central venous line insertion is the second option when peripheral venous access proves futile.
Plasma is targeted in this therapy because it contains proteins that constantly cause harm to other tissues in the body in the presence of disease. Some of the illnesses in which these harmful reactions are depicted include myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombocytopenic purpura. In the treatment of multiple sclerosis, plasma exchange is only used when alternative treatments are unsuccessful.
Complications can occur in the process, immediately after or days after. One of these complications is rejection of the new blood. If the patient has reacted in previous procedures, the doctor is required to give medications that prevent allergy prior to performing the exchange. Another common complication is infection which can be minimized by keeping the process as sterile as possible.
Blood is unlikely to clot when it is in an optimal surrounding, inside the human body. However, once it is exposed to the external environment, the likelihood of clotting increases. This is why sodium citrate is given during the procedure. The patient is exposed to an additional problem; hypocalcemia (or low calcium levels). This happens because the sodium citrate has to extract calcium for clotting to be prevented.
The doctor will closely monitor you for any signs of hypocalcemia and give a timely intervention because of the life threatening complications associated with it. Hypocalcemia is usually managed by infusing the affected individual with calcium to return it to normal levels. Some of the possible signs include paresthesia, loss of sensation, jerky movements and seizures. One may also display irritability, bronchospasms and swallowing difficulties.
Each session takes about two to four hours. In a week, two or three treatments may be needed. A full course takes a minimum of two weeks. Thereafter, the individual shows improvement lasting a few weeks to months. If condition relapses, they may have to undergo further courses of therapy.
Evidently, plasmapheresis should not be regarded as a lasting solution, rather a complementary form of management The more the sessions, the higher the cost. Other treatments need to be considered before resorting to plasma exchange.
One does not need to spend days in hospital for this procedure to be performed. In fact, no anesthesia is administered due to the simplicity of the process. However, some pain may be experienced in given situations particularly when access to veins is difficult either when they are too small or when they have collapsed because of dehydration. This is why the patient is advised to consume fluids in plenty. Central venous line insertion is the second option when peripheral venous access proves futile.
Plasma is targeted in this therapy because it contains proteins that constantly cause harm to other tissues in the body in the presence of disease. Some of the illnesses in which these harmful reactions are depicted include myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombocytopenic purpura. In the treatment of multiple sclerosis, plasma exchange is only used when alternative treatments are unsuccessful.
Complications can occur in the process, immediately after or days after. One of these complications is rejection of the new blood. If the patient has reacted in previous procedures, the doctor is required to give medications that prevent allergy prior to performing the exchange. Another common complication is infection which can be minimized by keeping the process as sterile as possible.
Blood is unlikely to clot when it is in an optimal surrounding, inside the human body. However, once it is exposed to the external environment, the likelihood of clotting increases. This is why sodium citrate is given during the procedure. The patient is exposed to an additional problem; hypocalcemia (or low calcium levels). This happens because the sodium citrate has to extract calcium for clotting to be prevented.
The doctor will closely monitor you for any signs of hypocalcemia and give a timely intervention because of the life threatening complications associated with it. Hypocalcemia is usually managed by infusing the affected individual with calcium to return it to normal levels. Some of the possible signs include paresthesia, loss of sensation, jerky movements and seizures. One may also display irritability, bronchospasms and swallowing difficulties.
Each session takes about two to four hours. In a week, two or three treatments may be needed. A full course takes a minimum of two weeks. Thereafter, the individual shows improvement lasting a few weeks to months. If condition relapses, they may have to undergo further courses of therapy.
Evidently, plasmapheresis should not be regarded as a lasting solution, rather a complementary form of management The more the sessions, the higher the cost. Other treatments need to be considered before resorting to plasma exchange.
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You can find an overview of the benefits you get when you use plasma exchange therapy services at http://www.youngbloodinstitute.org/aging--blood.html right now.
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