phleboto my

Ph leb oto my

also known as venesection,

is the act of drawing or removing blood
from the circulatory system through a cut
(incision) or puncture in order to obtain a
sample for analysis and diagnosis, for the
purpose of blood donation or for patient's
treatment for certain blood disorders.
 Th era peu ti c ph leboto my

refers to the drawing of a unit of blood in

specific cases like
Hemochromatosis
polycythemia vera
porphyria cutanea tarda, etc.
to reduce the amount of red blood cells.
 Phlebotomy for treatment of hemochromatosis
typically involves removing a unit of blood—or
250 mg of iron— once a week.
 Phlebotomy sessions are required until iron
levels return to a consistently normal level,
which may take several months to several
years.
 Phlebotomy for polycythemia vera
removes enough blood to keep the
patient's hematocrit below 45%. The
frequency and duration of sessions
depends on the patient's individual needs.
 Afte rca re

After blood is drawn and the needle is removed,

pressure is placed on the puncture site with a
cotton ball to stop bleeding, and a bandage is
applied. It is not uncommon for a patient to feel
dizzy or nauseated during or after phlebotomy. The
patient may be encouraged to rest for a short
period once the procedure is completed. Patients are
also instructed to drink plenty of fluids and eat
regularly over the next 24 hours to replace lost
blood volume. Patients who experience swelling of
the puncture site or continued bleeding after
phlebotomy should get medical help at once.
 Ris ks

Most patients will have a small bruise or mild

soreness at the puncture site for several days.
Therapeutic phlebotomy may cause
thrombocytosis and chronic iron deficiency
(anemia) in some patients. As with any invasive
procedure, infection is also a risk. This risk can
be minimized by the use of prepackaged sterilized
equipment and careful attention to proper
technique.