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Is Transfusion Advisable When Having Liver Cirrhosis?
Hello, My mother was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis last September. she was given 6 months to 1 year to live, she has abstained from alcohol since then. She has continued to deteriorate. She has been hospitalized 3 times since last September for a total of 6 weeks. Her latest blood results reveal a hemoglobin of 46, plt unknown and bilirubin of 200. We were told to bring her in for a transfusion of PRBC. This does not make sense to me since her last admission she recieved 12 units of blood for a hbg of 67 and it never went above 100. 3 weeks later it is low again. We were advided her bone marrow no longer works and to stop all transfusions. Why would we get this call and is it worth bringing her in? She appears and says she is comfortable, she is not SOB, her swelling to the ower limbs has increased substantially, up to her abdomena and ascites has increased. She is on diuretics and they were decreased last admission due to severe dehydration and confusion. Help! Transfuse or let nature take it`s course?
Increased liver enzymes causes hemolysis (break down of red blood cells) which is why she is continually loosing blood and lack of oxygen to tissues is causing SOB. You should trust your physician and do as they advise
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bhanu Partap, Cardiologist
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Is Transfusion Advisable When Having Liver Cirrhosis?
Hello, Increased liver enzymes causes hemolysis (break down of red blood cells) which is why she is continually loosing blood and lack of oxygen to tissues is causing SOB. You should trust your physician and do as they advise Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Bhanu Partap, Cardiologist