Episode 46 - A PerPLEXing Journey | Introduction to Apheresis

Red cells. White cells. Platelets. Plasma. Proteins. By your powers combined I am Captain… Whole Blood? Wouldn’t it be so much easier if we could work with each of these blood components individually. After all, we have to get them in a bag to donate to people. Before we swear off transfusion for the time being, join the Bloody Minded Crew as we learn the get back to basics of the apheresis machine, the concept of plasma exchange and how the magic of technology allows us to manipulate these components separately. Why keep all of your humours mixed together if you don’t have to? Hippocrates could never.Timestamps0:55 - Our stupidest and best intro to date3:10 - What is apheresis?8:05 - Indications for apheresis13:21 - Mechanism of apheresis17:52 - Replacement fluids19:23 - Physiology in plasma exchange22:13 - Complications of plasma exchange30:50 - Take home messagesSupport the showCheck out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au