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Experience and/or collected data regarding the use of oxygen in treating reactions associated with blood donation

A transfusion medicine physician in a Gulf Coast state of the US wonders if anyone has gained experience or collected data regarding the use of oxygen for treating donors who experience a reaction in association with a blood donation? She comments that in her experience most of these reactions are described as "vasovagal" or "hypovolemic," although the physiological mechanism for the reaction is not always clear. She asks if colleagues would share any evidence (data) that oxygen is helpful to these donors in any way, or if the administration of oxygen will shorten the period of recovery? At her blood collection center they do not routinely keep oxygen at the donation sites, but they are aware that the administration of oxygen is one of the treatments emergency medical responders frequently (if not always) give.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator
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Posted: June 7, 2005

Addenda:

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