Medicating oncology patients before they undergo a blood transfusion is not only unnecessary, it might expose them to adverse effects that can be especially harmful, new research shows.

Most people experience no complications during a blood transfusion, but some have adverse reactions during or after treatment. Examples include a fever, chills, itching, or breathing difficulty.

Transfusion reactions are medical complications that arise after a blood transfusion. They may occur during the transfusion (known as acute) or weeks after it (delayed). They're further classified ...

In the developed world, most of the reported complications of transfusion have an immunological basis. Although the media and the public are worried about the infectious risks of transfusion, ...

Blood transfusions can take 1 to 4 hours. A blood transfusion involves giving you blood from a donor via an intravenous (IV) line. Sometimes, you may receive your own blood if it was collected ...

When you get a blood transfusion, you receive blood via an intravenous (IV) line. Blood transfusions are sometimes necessary after an injury or surgery causes a high amount of blood loss. Some people ...