Delta State Sickle Cell Centre Commences Automated Exchange Blood Transfusion

The newly inaugurated O5 Initiative Delta State Sickle Cell Referral Centre at the Asaba Specialist Hospital, has commenced Automated Exchange Blood Transfusion for Sickle Cell patients

The successful procedure which is the first automated transfusion in the State, was completed in a record time of Two Hours, Thirteen Minutes (2 hrs, 13 mins) using the Spectra Optia APHERESIS SYSTEM, an equipment acquired by O5 Initiative for the Sickle Cell Centre.

The APHERESIS SYSTEM, one of the multi million naira medical equipment recently deployed in the clinic to cater for sickle cell patients in Delta State and across the country, met the expectations of all who witnessed the procedure involving the replacement of the SS Red Blood Cells and with AA Red Blood Cells.

Spectra Optia Apheresis System at Delta State Sickle Cell Centre, Asaba Specialist Hospital

Speaking after the successful transfusion, Pediatrician and Consultant at the Sickle Cell Clinic, Dr Peace Ighosewe expressed satisfaction with the procedure and applauded O5 Initiative for providing advanced medical equipment for the welfare of persons living with Sickle Cell Aneamia.

She said; “We are very excited with this first transfusion using the APHERESIS SYSTEM which was very successful. It goes to show that with the right equipment and man power, we can achieve universal standard in medical practice in Nigeria. We are now fully ready to attend to Sickle Cell Aneamia patients who require Exchange Blood Transfusion regularly. So patients across Delta State and the country can now be referred here for this procedure. They don’t have to go through the manual process anymore.

“Previously, patients were referred to the Sickle Cell Foundation in Lagos to get the procedure done using the automated machine but now, they don’t have to travel that far because they can have the procedure done here at the Delta State Sickle Cell Centre, Asaba.”

Dr Ighosewe informed that the patient, an Eleven year-old sickle cell warrior, had been having the transfusion done manually which was quite tough but with the Spectra Optia APHERESIS SYSTEM, the procedure was faster and seamless with minimal pains, less messy, eliminated risks of over load, achieved accurate result and user friendly.

On the circumstances leading to the regular exchange blood transfusion, Dr Ighosewe said, “some of the sickle cell patients require frequent exchange blood transfusion from an AA donor to reduce the SS blood cells in their body.

Seamless Monitoring of the Exchange Blood Transfusion Patient at the Delta State Sickle Cell Centre, Asaba

It is carried out on children who have sickle cell aneamia with certain conditions like stroke. So any sickle cell patient who has had stroke, will undergo this blood transfusion procedure once every month for the rest of his life.”

Also speaking, Mrs Laura Ade, Quality Assurance Consultant, Asaba Specialist Hospital commended the successful procedure of the automated exchange blood transfusion describing it as being safe, good quality and comfortable for patients than the manual process.

The automated transfusion was overseen by Dr Peace Ighosewe, Dr Obifa Olise with support from Lab. Scientist Oyetunji Ajoke of the Sickle Cell Foundation, Idi-Araba Lagos; Isaac Bosompem and Seyi Akande of Bio-Medical Engineers from ERS Nigeria Limited, and clinical assistance from Staff of the Delta State Sickle Cell Centre.

Some Doctors from the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Asaba were also at the facility to witness the First Automated Exchange Blood Transfusion in Delta State.