Patient: Taraben N Patel
Consultant doctor: Dr.Chetan Nayak
Case summary:
Taraben N Patel, a resident of Kalol was diagnosed with Hepatitis B. She was admitted at Shree Umiya Hospital, Ranip with a complaint of pain in the lower abdomen for few weeks. “Taraben was suffering from viral hepatitis and her prothrombin time (PT) level was increased, which measures how long does it take for blood to clot in bleeding problems due to an injury or any other reasons. During her treatment we needed fresh frozen plasma. Almost 16 units of fresh frozen plasma were transfused to Taraben”, said Dr.Chetan Nayak, her consulting doctor.
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is a major global health problem and the most serious type of viral hepatitis. It can cause chronic liver disease and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Worldwide, an estimated two billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus and more than 240 million have chronic (long-term) liver infections. About 600,000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B.
Most people do not experience any symptoms during the acute infection phase. However, some people have acute illness with symptoms that last several weeks, including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In some people, the hepatitis B virus can also cause a chronic liver infection that can later develop into cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.
How Prathama Donors saved a life:
Alike most of the patients of Hepatitis B, Taraben also did not develop any symptom during initial days of infection. She was transfused with almost 16 units of Fresh Frozen Plasma and then showed signs of recovery very fast.
Talking about the usage of blood components, Dr.Nayak said that he used 100% blood components for his patients. Best thing about the transfusion of blood components instead of whole blood was that the patients were given specific required components which speeds up their recovery. He also shared that the blood components were also used by him in cases of severe anemia due to acute blood loss in gastrointestinal bleeding, dengue viral fever, Von Willebrand disease, coagulation factor deficiency etc.
Lastly, he encouraged and requested people to come forward and donate blood saving many lives.
