HOW CAN BLOOD SAVE YOUR LIFE

Conclusion of: BLOOD AND YOUR IMMUNITY

What do such studies suggest regarding transfusions?  In his article "Blood Transfusions and Surgery for Cancer" Dr. John S. Spratt concluded:  "The cancer surgeon may need to become a bloodless surgeon." - The American Journal of Surgery, September 1986. 

Another primary task of your immune system is to defend against infection. So it is understandable that some studies show that patients receiving blood are more prone to infection.  Dr. P.I.Tarter did a study of colorectal surgery. Of patients given transfusions, 25 percent developed infections, compare with 4 percent of those who received no transfusions.  He reports:  "Blood transfusions are associated with infectious complications when given  pre - intra - or postoperatively  . . . the risk of postoperative infection increased progressively with the number of units of blood given."  (The British Journal of Surgery, August 1988) Those attending a 1988 meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks learned this;  Whereas 23 percent of those who received donor blood during hip-replacement surgery developed infections, those given no blood had no infections at all. 

Dr. John A. Collins wrote concerning this effect of blood transfusions:  "It would be ironic indeed if a 'treatment which has very little evidence of accomplishing anything worthwhile should  subsequently be found to intensify  one of the main problems faced by such patients." -World Journal of Surgery, February 1987. 

Next time: HOW CAN BLOOD SAVE YOUR LIFE?/DISEASE FREE OR FRAUGHT WITH DANGER?  

From the Watchtower magazine