Therapeutic Apheresis
Apheresis is a procedure that separates blood into red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma and is used when an illness is related to one’s blood and requires removal of the affected part of the blood. Blood that is drawn from you goes through a machine, called a blood cell separator, to separate the blood parts. The affected part blood is removed and the rest of your blood is returned to you.
Queen’s Infusion Treatment Center is one of few facilities in the state that provides therapeutic apheris services.
What to Expect During the Procedure
The length of time needed will vary depending on the reason for the apheresis procedure. Therapeutic procedures usually take 2-3 hours, however the amount of time for your procedure may be shorter or longer. We recommend using the the restroom before the procedure starts, however, our staff can assist you with a bedpan or urinal if the need to use the restroom arises restroom during the procedure.
Many patients watch television, read or listen to music to pass the time during the procedure.
Some procedures require the use of an intravenous (IV) catheter, while others do use IV needles.
Temporary or permanent IV catheters can be put in at bedside by a surgeon or in the radiology department. The catheter has two sides: one to draw your blood, the other to return your blood to you.
IV needles can be placed in your arms, with one needle to draw your blood and another to return the blood into your system. Both needles will be removed after the procedure is over.
Using the IV catheter or IV needles, blood will be drawn from you and will then go through the blood cell separator where it will spun rapidly. The rapid spinning separates the different parts of your blood into layers based on the weight of the different parts of blood. Once the blood is in layers, the selected parts are removed and the rest of your blood and other fluids will be returned to you.
During the procedure, some people temporarily feel lightheaded, faint, nauseated, cold, or may feel tingling in their lips or fingers. If you experience any of these symptoms, notify your nurse.
After the Procedure
After completing the apheresis procedure, you may temporarily feel a little tired or stiff.
If you are receiving the procedure as an inpatient and will be staying in the hospital overnight, you will be returned to your room and monitored. For patients who are not staying in the hospital, our staff will review instructions for self-care at home.
