Prior to Procedure

The doctor may talk to you about:

• Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before the procedure
• Whether you need a ride to and from the procedure
• Drinking lots of fluids before the procedure
• What you should (and should not) eat and drink before the procedure

Anesthesia

Anesthesia is not needed for this procedure.

Description of the Procedure

Two needles attached to a tube will be placed into veins. They may be placed in different parts of the body. A long duration catheter will be inserted if the veins are too small. It will be placed in the shoulder or groin area.

Long-Duration Catheter Placement in Shoulder and Groin Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Blood will be taken out of the body through one of the tubes. It will then go into a special machine. The machine separates the blood cells and plasma. The blood cells are then mixed with fresh plasma or a plasma substitute. The new mixed blood will then be returned to the body through the other tube.

How Long Will It Take?

• A single treatment can take 1 to 3 hours.
• The length of time depends on body size. It also depends on the amount of plasma that needs to be exchanged.
• This treatment may need to be done more than once. It depends on the condition being treated.

Will It Hurt?

There may be a sting when the needles are inserted.

Average Hospital Stay

Most can go home the same day. If there are problems, you may need to stay longer.

Post-procedure Care

You may feel better within days or weeks. It depends on the problems you were having. Your doctor will let you know how often you will need to have this done.