Blood for surgery in Nigeria: why families are asked to bring donors, and what to do

Will I need blood?

Most operations do not need a transfusion. Some carry a higher chance: myomectomy, hysterectomy, caesarean section with complications, hip and knee replacement, and major abdominal surgery. Your surgeon should tell you before the day whether blood is likely, how many units to have ready, and how it is being arranged.

Your blood group and a crossmatch, a test that matches donor blood to yours, are done before these operations so blood can be ready if needed.

Why hospitals ask for donors

Blood cannot be manufactured. Blood banks depend on donors, and in many places there are not enough regular voluntary donors. So hospitals ask families to replace what the patient may use. The blood your donor gives usually goes into the bank and is not necessarily given to your relative directly: it is replacing stock.

Who can donate

The blood bank makes the final decision, but a donor should usually be:

• A healthy adult, usually between 18 and 65
• Above the minimum weight the blood bank sets
• Free of fever, malaria or any recent illness
• Not pregnant or recently delivered
• Honest about risk factors on the screening form
• Fed and well hydrated on the day of donation

Never buy blood

Around some hospitals there are people who sell blood or offer to donate for money. Paid donors are more likely to hide illness or risk factors, and blood bought outside a proper blood bank may not have been screened properly. The World Health Organization recommends blood from voluntary, unpaid donors. If someone approaches your family offering blood for cash, say no, and tell the team.

How to need less blood

The best transfusion is the one you never need. Before a planned operation:

• Get your blood count checked early. If you are anaemic, treating it with iron or other treatment before surgery is safer than a transfusion during it
• Fibroids that cause heavy periods often cause anaemia. Your gynaecologist may treat the bleeding and the anaemia first
• Tell the team about blood thinners and herbal remedies, which can increase bleeding
• If you are a Jehovah's Witness or do not want blood for any reason, tell the surgeon at the first appointment so the plan can be made around it

Questions to ask before the day

Ask, and get the answers in writing: Is blood likely for my operation? How many units? Is it arranged by the hospital or by us? Is it included in my quote, and what does an extra unit cost? On Mezo your written all-in quote follows the assessment, so ask your coordinator to confirm how blood is handled before you pay.

Common questions