Topic: Mayo Clinic and Artificial Blood
started by: preemptiveprevention
Posted by preemptiveprevention on Jul. 08 2006,11:42 pm
Has anyone else heard about patients getting < PolyHeme >instead of real blood at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester?
Posted by Petunia on Jul. 09 2006,12:07 am
I work in the E.R. at St. Mary's in Roch. I have seen it given to several patients. I have not heard of any adverse effects or reactions to the product. It supposedly has the same oxygen carrying capabilities as RBC's. The patients have to meet a certain set of criteria to get Polyheme. I have seen it given to only the most critical of trauma patients. There was an open letter to the community from Mayo in the Post Bulletin regarding Polyheme when the trial started. It made everyone aware that informed consent would not be needed to give Polyheme and you may receive it if you are unfortunate enough to visit our E.R.
Posted by TameThaTane on Jul. 09 2006,1:22 am
Right. This is used for severe trauma where large volumes of blood are lost and needed. Don't get bent out of shape pre...it's not Frankenstein fluid. 
Posted by preemptiveprevention on Jul. 09 2006,2:48 am
| Quote (TameThaTane @ July 09 2006,1:22am) |
| Don't get bent out of shape |
Not bent out of shape.
This much looks positive about PolyHeme:
| Quote |
| a solution of chemically modified human hemoglobin that requires no cross matching and is compatible with all blood types. It has a shelf life in excess of 12 months. |
But I do have 2 questions about this.
How many Mayo Clinic patients were notified that they received blood that was not real blood?
What are the long term effects (10-15 years) of not using real blood?
Posted by hymiebravo on Jul. 09 2006,9:07 am
As far as telling somebody after the fact once they have received it... I would think the possible added stress of the news could hurt their recovery...
Posted by hymiebravo on Jul. 09 2006,9:09 am
I would think most people would be willing to try the stuff giving the choice of life or death...lol
Posted by Petunia on Jul. 09 2006,4:59 pm
| Quote (hymiebravo @ July 09 2006,9:07am) |
| As far as telling somebody after the fact once they have received it... I would think the possible added stress of the news could hurt their recovery... |
For the type of patients that receive Polyheme I think finding out their received "fake" blood is the least of the their worries. They have probably spent the last month in a drug induced coma on a ventilator. They are probably in a ton of pain, probably are facing months of physical and occupational therapy, worrying about doctor bills, missed work and all of the other health problems they will face.
People can have horrible reactions to blood transfusions (you are receiving SOMEONE ELSE's blood that they donated). Granted it is thoroughly tested for AIDS, hepatitis, etc. but you can react to the donor's antibodies. There are major risks involved in a "real" blood transfusion.
Think of all of the other "forgein" things you could be exposed to while hospitalized. Medications, chemotherapies, insulin (which comes from pigs!) pig valves, titanium rods, iodine injectons for CT's, radiation.
I think Polyheme is kinda scary too but I just look at it like another type of medication being put into someone's body.
Posted by SimpleLife on Jul. 09 2006,5:30 pm
Yeah, but during the first part of the study they found that people were having heart attacks as a direct result of this. And, once you've started getting it you'll keep getting it, whether or not it's working, unless you demand otherwise, which is pretty hard to do if you're unconscious. Many of the hosptials that opted out of this study did so for that reason. Yeah, it sounds like a good idea in the field or when no other blood is available and it's life or death, but to keep giving it even if it's not working, patient be damned, once real blood is available?