Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Phlebotomy”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phlebotomy to reduce iron overload in patients cured of thalassemia by bone marrow transplantation. Italian Cooperative Group for Phlebotomy Treatment of Transplanted Thalassemia Patients.

In thalassemia after successful bone marrow transplantation (BMT), iron overload remains an important cause of morbidity. After BMT, patients have normal erythropoiesis capable of producing a hyperplastic response to phlebotomy so that this procedure can be contemplated as a method of mobilizing iron from overloaded tissues. A phlebotomy program (6 mL/kg blood withdrawal at 14-day intervals) was proposed to 48 patients with prolonged follow-up (range, 2 to 7 years) after BMT. Seven patients were not submitted to the program (five because of refusal and two because of reversible side effects). The remaining 41 patients (mean age, 16 +/- 2.9 years) were treated for a mean period of 35 +/- 18 months. All were evaluated before and after 3 +/- 0.6 years of follow-up. Values are expressed as mean +/- standard deviation (SD) or as median with a range (25 to 75 percentile). Serum ferritin decreased from 2,587 (2,129 to 4,817) to 417 (210 to 982) microg/L (P < .0001), total transferrin increased from 2.34 +/- 0.37 to 2.7 +/- 0.58 g/L (P = .0001), transferrin saturation decreased from 90% +/- 14% to 50% +/- 29% (P < .0001). Liver iron concentration evaluated on liver biopsy specimens decreased from 20.8 (15.5 to 28.1) to 4.2 (1.6 to 14.6) mg/g dry weight (P < .0001). Aspartate transaminase decreased from 2.7 +/- 2 to 1.1 +/- 0.6 (P < .0001) and alanine transaminase from 5.2 +/- 3.4 to 1.7 +/- 1.2 (P < .0001) times the upper level of normality. The Knodell score for liver histological activity decreased from 6.9 +/- 3 to 4.9 +/- 2.8 (P < .0001). These data indicate that phlebotomy is safe, efficient, and widely applicable to ex-thalassemics after BMT.

Adolescent↗

Inpatient phlebotomy practices. A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes quality improvement study of 2,351,643 phlebotomy requests.

We report outcomes of requests for inpatient phlebotomy procedures from 683 institutions participating in the College of American Pathologists Q-Probes programs. Of the 2,351,643 phlebotomy requests analyzed, 93.2% of venipunctures were successful, 1.6% were unsuccessful, 0.4% were partially successful, and 4.9% were not attempted by the assigned phlebotomist. Administrative inefficiencies prevented the assigned phlebotomist from attempting these venipunctures of which the most frequent reasons were patient unavailability (1.4%), patient transferred or discharged (0.9%), followed by the specimen already collected by someone else (0.7%). These results suggest that performance improvement of phlebotomy services, in general, would achieve the greatest gains by focusing attention to specific processes associated with administrative inefficiencies identified, rather than phlebotomists' technical skills.

Appointments and Schedules↗

Effects of phlebotomy on the growth of ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced renal cell carcinoma.

The ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced carcinogenesis model is unique in that reactive oxygen species-free radicals are involved in the carcinogenic process. But the effects of iron-withdrawal in the progression of renal cell carcinoma are not well understood. We performed repeated phlebotomies on animals that had been administered ferric nitrilotriacetate in the initiation stage of renal cell carcinoma (phlebotomy group), and compared the development of renal tumors with those not receiving repeated phlebotomies (non-phlebotomy group). Ferric nitrilotriacetate-treated male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: a phlebotomy group (21 rats) and a non-phlebotomy group (17 rats). Ten age-adjusted normal rats were also observed as a normal group. Hematocrit was maintained under 25% in the phlebotomy group. Hematocrit levels in the normal group and in the non-phlebotomy group were not significantly different. As a result, the incidence of renal cell carcinoma was not significantly different between phlebotomy and non-phlebotomy animals. However, the total weight of the renal cell carcinoma was significantly heavier in the animals from non-phlebotomy group than in those from the phlebotomy group (23.64 g +/- 18.54 vs. 54.40 g +/- 42.40, P < 0.05). The present study demonstrated that phlebotomy after the administration of ferric nitrilotriacetate did not reduce the incidence of renal cell carcinoma. In addition, we showed that iron withdrawal at the promotion stage of carcinogenesis will retard tumor growth.

Animals↗

Effects of phlebotomy and autologous blood transfusion on oxygen transport in the racehorse.

Because the haemoglobin concentration Hb[ during exercise may be at the upper limit of blood viscosity for effective oxygen delivery, we hypothesised that administration of blood would not further enhance oxygen delivery or exercise capacity. Six Thoroughbred geldings were used in 5 incremental treadmill exercise tests over a period of 4 weeks. The first test was performed 6 days prior to phlebotomy, which involved the removal of 20 ml/kg bwt of venous blood. Exercise tests were performed at 1, 8 and 15 days after blood removal. Six days after the 15 day post phlebotomy exercise test, blood from each horse was reinfused and the final test performed 24 h after blood reinfusion. During the 3 weeks following blood collection, the blood, collected into acid citrate dextrose, was stored at 3 degrees C. Each exercise test involved measurements of arterial and mixed venous blood gases, plasma lactate concentrations, heart rate and VO2 using an open flow system. Cardiac output was measured by direct Fick. The removal and reinfusion of blood had significant effects on packed cell volume (PCV) with the lowest PCV value during exercise of 0.57 +/- 0.04 l/l being recorded in the second post phlebotomy test and the highest value of 0.67 +/- 0.04 l/l found after blood reinfusion. There were no significant effects of phlebotomy or blood reinfusion on arterial blood gas values. However, arteriovenous oxygen content difference was significantly altered by phlebotomy and reinfusion. The maximal values during the 3 tests following phlebotomy were significantly lower (P < 0.05) by about 7% than those before phlebotomy and after blood reinfusion, mirroring the alterations in Hb[. There was no significant effect of phlebotomy or blood reinfusion on heart rate but stroke volume was significantly higher (P < 0.01) during the 3 post phlebotomy tests than for the control or blood reinfusion tests. There was no significant effect of phlebotomy or blood reinfusion on either the submaximal or maximal values for VO2. No significant effect of blood removal or reinfusion was found on the treadmill run time to fatigue. We concluded that haemodynamic adjustments following phlebotomy or blood reinfusion maintained oxygen delivery during exercise. No detrimental effects on exercise capacity were found from phlebotomy nor beneficial effects from autologous blood transfusion. However, it should be noted that the extent of change induced in Hb[ was relatively small and with the number of horses in the study, the experimental power was not great.

Animals↗

Phlebotomy-mobilized iron as a surrogate for liver iron content in hemochromatosis patients.

We sought to establish the relationship of quantitative hepatic iron measurements and phlebotomy-mobilized iron in a large sample of HFE C282Y homozygotes with a hemochromatosis phenotype. Thus, we analyzed data from 79 unrelated C282Y homozygotes from treatment centers in Rochester, NY and Birmingham, AL who had undergone liver biopsy with measurement of hepatic iron content and who had achieved iron depletion (serum ferritin <25 ng/l) with quantitative phlebotomy. The sample consisted of 57 men and 22 women; their median age at diagnosis was 47 years (range 23-76 years). Sixty-three of 79 (79.7%) had hepatic iron index (HII; μmol/g dry weight of liver divided by age in years) ≥1.9, a conventional phenotypic definition of hemochromatosis. The mean quantity of phlebotomy-mobilized iron (± 1 sd) was 6.4 g (±4.0 g) in men (range 2.0-18.0 g) and 6.2 g (±5.8) in women (range 0.7-22.5 g). There was a significant positive correlation of liver iron levels with phlebotomy-mobilized iron in this patient sample (Pearson coefficient 0.75; R 2 =55.5%). This relationship was also demonstrable when data from males and females were analyzed separately. We calculated a phlebotomy-mobilized iron index (MII: phlebotomy-mobilized iron in mg divided by age in years) using the corresponding regression equations and evaluated its use as a surrogate for HII. Thus, a phlebotomy-mobilized iron of 3.5 g corresponds to liver iron levels of 80 μmol/g dry weight, and a MII of 80 corresponds to HII of 1.9. Forty-six of 79 subjects met all four phenotypic criteria for hemochromatosis (liver iron levels ≥80 μmol/g, HII≥1.9, phlebotomy-mobilized iron ≥3.5 g and MII≥80). Of the 20 subjects with MII<80, 9 had a HII≥1.9. Conversely, 5 of 16 subjects with HII<1.9 had MII≥80 and 8 had phlebotomy-mobilized iron ≥3.5 g. Most patients with a hemochromatosis phenotype and evidence of moderate or severe iron overload (>80%) are homozygous for the common HFE missense mutation C282Y. Thus, clinicians rely increasingly on HFE mutation analysis to diagnose hemochromatosis and on quantitative phlebotomy to estimate the severity of iron overload in many cases. Liver biopsy is now employed in selected patients to visualize fibrosis or cirrhosis and to identify coincidental hepatic disease. We conclude that the use of the MII permits a retrospective estimation of the age-adjusted severity of iron overload that has a diagnostic value similar to that of the HII in hemochromatosis patients with C282Y homozygosity.

Adult↗

A survey of phlebotomy among persons with hemochromatosis.

BACKGROUND: One in 10 whites in the United States is a carrier for hemochromatosis and an estimated 1 in 200 is clinically affected. Early treatment with therapeutic phlebotomy to remove excess iron can prevent associated chronic diseases. However, little information is available on the amount of blood withdrawn or the rates of withdrawal from hemochromatosis patients. The patterns of therapeutic phlebotomy and the magnitude of charges in persons with hemochromatosis were surveyed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Surveys were mailed to persons with hemochromatosis identified by health care providers, blood centers, patient advocacy groups, and the Internet. There were 2362 respondents to the survey from the United States. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported being voluntary blood donors prior to diagnosis. The mean rate of therapeutic phlebotomy for iron depletion was 2.6 units per month (mean duration, 13 months). The mean rate of maintenance phlebotomy was 0.5 units per month. Therapeutic phlebotomy rates varied by sex, age, reason for diagnosis, and severity of symptoms. Seventy-six percent of respondents reported full or partial insurance coverage of therapeutic phlebotomy charges. Seventy-six percent received therapeutic phlebotomy services in a hospital or physician's office and 30 percent in a blood center. Charges for therapeutic phlebotomy varied by site, with a mean cost of $90 in hospitals and $52 in blood centers. Fifty-four percent of respondents attempted to donate blood after their diagnosis but were excluded. CONCLUSION: The amount of blood withdrawn from persons with hemochromatosis is substantial. The location where patients received phlebotomy services appears to be influenced by charges and time since diagnosis.

Adult↗

MCV as a guide to phlebotomy therapy for hemochromatosis.

BACKGROUND: A multitude of recommendations exist for laboratory assays to monitor the pace and endpoints of phlebotomy therapy for hemochromatosis. All of these recommendations rely on an assessment of storage iron to guide treatment, and none have been prospectively evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Nine consecutive patients underwent serial monitoring of Hb, MCV, transferrin saturation, and ferritin during weekly phlebotomy to deplete iron stores (induction therapy) and less frequent sessions to prevent iron reaccumulation (maintenance therapy). Changes in MCV and Hb were used to guide the pace of phlebotomy over a median of 7 years of follow-up. RESULTS: During induction therapy, the MCV increased transiently because of reticulocytosis and then stabilized for a prolonged period before decreasing more sharply, which reflected iron-limited erythropoiesis. Iron depletion was achieved after a median of 38 phlebotomies and removal of 9.0 g of iron. Maintenance phlebotomy was targeted to maintain the MCV at 5 to 10 percent below prephlebotomy values and the Hb at >13 g per dL. Transferrin saturation fluctuated considerably during treatment, but remained below 35 percent during MCV-guided maintenance therapy. Ferritin values were not useful guides to the pace of phlebotomy. The median maintenance therapy phlebotomy interval was 7.5 weeks (range, 6-16), which corresponded to an average daily iron removal of 35 to 67 microg per kg. Most patients showed evidence of iron reaccumulation at phlebotomy intervals of 8 weeks or more. CONCLUSION: The MCV is an inexpensive, precise, physiologic indicator of erythropoietic iron availability. When used in conjunction with the Hb, it is a clinically useful guide to the pace of phlebotomy therapy for hemochromatosis.

Adult↗

Effects of phlebotomy on haemodynamic characteristics during exercise in standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia.

Five Standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia (RCHV) were compared before and after removal of approximately 22% (36 ml/kg bwt) of the total blood volume in order to evaluate the haemodynamic responses, haemorheological alterations and oxygen transport during exercise to fatigue. Data were recorded during submaximal exercise at 4 different speeds on a treadmill and then during continued running at the highest speed step until fatigue. Oxygen uptake (VO2), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), systemic artery pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), haematocrit and haemoglobin concentrations (Hb) were measured. Arteriovenous O2 content difference (C(a-v)O2), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and total systemic resistance (TSR) were calculated. Whole blood and plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation tendency were determined with a rotational viscometer. Endoscopy was performed after exercise. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Phlebotomy resulted in a decrease in haematocrit and Hb during the course of exercise. Blood and plasma viscosity were lower and erythrocyte aggregation tendency was higher after phlebotomy. Throughout exercise, including submaximal work and continued running to fatigue, PAP, SAP, PVR, TSR and C(a-v)O2 were lower after phlebotomy. HR was higher after phlebotomy during submaximal exercise. Oxygen delivery and VO2 were lower after phlebotomy in the period from submaximal exercise to fatigue. Run time to fatigue was shorter after phlebotomy. Four horses showed exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) before phlebotomy and the degree of bleeding was diminished but not abolished after phlebotomy. The reductions in PVR, TSR, PAP and SAP after phlebotomy were probably a result of reduced blood viscosity. In conclusion, although a 22% reduction in blood volume improved the haemodynamic and haemorheological parameters and the degree of EIPH, it was found that RCHV trotters have to rely on high oxygen delivery to the working muscles for maintenance of maximal performance.

Animals↗

The influence of single or repeated phlebotomy on the physiological condition of normal and diseased rats.

The present experiment was performed to see the influence of phlebotomy on hematology, serum chemistry, and pathology data in rats. When normal rats received a single phlebotomy of 2 or 3 ml blood, erythrocyte count and hematocrit were slightly reduced along with a persistent depression of the blood pressure. In repeated phlebotomy studies, 0.25 to 2 ml each of blood was removed from each rat every other day for 10 days. Normal rats from which 0.5 ml and more of blood was withdrawn showed decreases in erythrocyte count and serum iron level concomitant with an increase in reticulocyte count. Similar findings were obtained in rats with CCl4 liver damage or gentamicin nephrotoxicity, except that those rats hardly exhibited anemia because of a simultaneous occurrence of hemoconcentration. Histopathological findings of the liver and kidney were not different between animals with and without phlebotomy. In phenylhydrazine-treated rats receiving repeated phlebotomy, one rat in the 1-ml phlebotomy and two rats in the 2-ml phlebotomy died from severe anemia. Surviving rats receiving 2-ml phlebotomy showed higher serum GOT and GPT activities together with fatty deposition and/or focal necrosis of hepatocytes. It is concluded that every-other-day phlebotomy of up to 0.25 ml each does not significantly influence the physiological condition of normal or diseased rats.

Anemia↗

Anemia, transfusion, and phlebotomy practices in critically ill patients with prolonged ICU length of stay: a cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Anemia among the critically ill has been described in patients with short to medium length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU), but it has not been described in long-stay ICU patients. This study was performed to characterize anemia, transfusion, and phlebotomy practices in patients with prolonged ICU LOS. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients admitted to a medical-surgical ICU in a tertiary care university hospital over three years; patients included had a continuous LOS in the ICU of 30 days or longer. Information on transfusion, phlebotomy, and outcomes were collected daily from days 22 to 112 of the ICU stay. RESULTS: A total of 155 patients were enrolled. The mean age, admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and median ICU LOS were 62.3 +/- 16.3 years, 23 +/- 8, and 49 days (interquartile range 36-70 days), respectively. Mean hemoglobin remained stable at 9.4 +/- 1.4 g/dl from day 7 onward. Mean daily phlebotomy volume was 13.3 +/- 7.3 ml, and 62% of patients received a mean of 3.4 +/- 5.3 units of packed red blood cells at a mean hemoglobin trigger of 7.7 +/- 0.9 g/dl after day 21. Transfused patients had significantly greater acuity of illness, phlebotomy volumes, ICU LOS and mortality, and had a lower hemoglobin than did those who were not transfused. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following as independently associated with the likelihood of requiring transfusion in nonbleeding patients: baseline hemoglobin, daily phlebotomy volume, ICU LOS, and erythropoietin therapy (used almost exclusively in dialysis dependent renal failure in this cohort of patients). Small increases in average phlebotomy (3.5 ml/day, 95% confidence interval 2.4-6.8 ml/day) were associated with a doubling in the odds of being transfused after day 21. CONCLUSION: Anemia, phlebotomy, and transfusions, despite low hemoglobin triggers, are common in ICU patients long after admission. Small decreases in phlebotomy volume are associated with significantly reduced transfusion requirements in patients with prolonged ICU LOS.

Adult↗

Audit of phlebotomy turnaround time in a private hospital setting.

An audit on the turnaround time (TAT) of a hospital phlebotomy service was undertaken to assess whether or not the existing service standards can satisfy the needs and expectations of both the external and internal customers. A job request survey form was designed and implemented in June 2005 to be used by the day shift to record the number of phlebotomy cases and the corresponding TAT. The success rate and complaints related to phlebotomy were also recorded. Phlebotomists provided the data for this study on an honor system basis. Out of 2,118 test requests received by the laboratory, 1,867 (88.1 percent) were phlebotomy requests. Approximately 62 phlebotomy requests were recorded, on average, per day shift. The average time, expressed in mean +/- standard deviation (SD) needed for response, arrival, and job completion was 7.4 +/- 1.5 minutes, 5.6 +/- 1.6 minutes, and 10.4 +/- 2.4 minutes respectively, with an average overall TAT of 23.4 +/- 4.1 minutes per phlebotomy request. The success rate at first phlebotomy attempt was 97 percent, and only one complaint was received during the audit period. This study may help hospital management identify possible bottlenecks that delay phlebotomy TAT, thus improving service standards in this area.

Hong Kong↗

Evaluation of safety devices for preventing percutaneous injuries among health-care workers during phlebotomy procedures--Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, and San Francisco, 1993-1995.

Health-care workers (HCWs) are at risk for infections with bloodborne pathogens resulting from occupational exposures to blood through percutaneous injuries (PIs). Phlebotomy, one of the most commonly performed medical procedures, has been associated with 13% - 62% of injuries reported to hospital occupational health services and 20 (39%) of the 51 documented episodes of occupationally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reported in the United States (CDC, unpublished data, 1996). Although safety devices designed to prevent PIs associated with phlebotomy have been available for use in the United States, clinical evaluation of these devices has been difficult because 1) ascertainment of PIs is difficult (many injuries are unreported, and observation of all procedures is impractical because phlebotomy is performed throughout the hospital by different groups of HCWs at all hours), 2) data to calculate PI rates (i.e., the number of phlebotomies performed and devices used) are not routinely available, 3) a large number of phlebotomies must be evaluated because of the low rates of phlebotomy-related PI and 4) rates of safety-feature activation are difficult to assess. This report summarizes a collaborative study by CDC and six hospitals to evaluate safety devices for phlebotomy. The findings indicate that use of safety devices significantly reduced phlebotomy-related PI rates while having minimal clinically apparent adverse effects on patient care.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Therapeutic efficiency of phlebotomy in posttransplant hypertension associated with erythrocytosis.

Hypertension is a major complication in kidney transplantation and contributes to the high cardiovascular mortality of renal transplanted recipients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of phlebotomy on blood pressure in posttransplant hypertension associated with erythrocytosis. In 12 renal transplanted patients (7 male, 5 female, aged 29-52 years) with erythrocytosis (defined by hematocrit > 52% or hemoglobin > 170 g/l), a 24-hour-monitoring of blood-pressure and heart rate (SpaceLabs SL90207) was performed before, 2 and 6 weeks after phlebotomy. Patients with iron-deficiency and/or transplant rejection were excluded from the study. Ten of 12 patients were on antihypertensive treatment before phlebotomy. Phlebotomy (500 ml) was repeated three times on average within the first two weeks, until hematocrit decreased below 45%. The phlebotomy therapy lowered the hematocrit after two weeks from 54.8 +/- 2.8% to 44.3 +/- 4.2% and 43.0 +/- 5.6% after six weeks. Before phlebotomy, the blood pressure was systolic 153.2 +/- 15.1 mmHg and diastolic 95.2 +/- 9.5 mmHg. After repeated phlebotomy, there was a significant decrease of blood pressure to systolic 139.0 +/- 14.1 and diastolic 85.3 +/- 8.2 mmHg (p < 0.01). Without change of hematocrit and hemoglobin, there was no further change of blood pressure after six weeks (systolic 140.1 +/- 9.9 mmHg, diastolic 86.3 +/- 9.5 mmHg). The heart rate did not change significantly during the therapy. The antihypertensive treatment could be reduced in most of the patients. The present study demonstrates the therapeutic effect of phlebotomy in posttransplant hypertension associated with erythrocytosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Determinants of serum ALT normalization after phlebotomy in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

BACKGROUND: Phlebotomy is performed to reduce excessive iron accumulation in hepatic tissue. We studied serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rates and 50% reduction in initial serum ALT (ALT(50%) reduction rate) in patients with hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection and investigated the factors that influenced the response to phlebotomy therapy. METHODS: We evaluated 23 consecutive patients with HCV infection who underwent phlebotomy. Phlebotomy was performed a few times per week, then a few times per month, and 200-400 ml of blood was removed at each session, depending on the clinical response. During the course of therapy, hemoglobin (Hb), serum ALT, and ferritin levels were assessed monthly. RESULTS: In patients with Hb of less than 11 g/dl, the ALT(50%) reduction rate was 87.5%. In patients with a serum ferritin level of less than 10 g/dl the ALT(50%) reduction rate was 83.3%. In patients with Hb of less than 11 g/dl, the ALT normalization rate was 50%, and in those with a serum ferritin level of less than 10 g/dl, the ALT normalization rate was 41.7%. Multivariate analysis identified ALT less than 100 IU/l at the start of phlebotomy as an independent factor associated with ALT normalization. Of the 7 patients who showed no response to phlebotomy, 85.7% were obese (body mass index > or =25 kg/m(2)), and 40% showed more than 30% steatosis on liver histology. The cumulative ALT normalization rate in relation to the total volume of blood loss was 43.9% with a blood less or more than 3 l, and thus was optimal above 3 l. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sample number was relatively small, the results of our study suggest that phlebotomy is effective therapy for HCV patients who are nonobese, show little or no steatosis on liver histology, and have a baseline serum ALT level of less than 100 IU/l.

Adult↗