Blood transfusion is a vital medical procedure that involves transferring blood or its components from a healthy donor to a recipient in need. Its primary purpose is to restore blood volume and improve oxygen delivery to tissues, making it essential in treating severe blood loss, anemia, cancer, and surgical patients. The history of blood transfusion reflects centuries of scientific advancement — from early experimental failures in the seventeenth century to the groundbreaking discovery of the ABO blood group system by Karl Landsteiner in 1901. Modern transfusion medicine emphasizes safety through rigorous testing, component therapy, and infection control. Despite being generally safe, transfusions can lead to complications such as allergic reactions, hemolytic responses, and iron overload. Recent innovations, including synthetic blood substitutes, autologous transfusions, and stem-cell-based blood production, represent the future of this field. Ethical and cultural considerations also influence transfusion practices, emphasizing respect for patient beliefs and promoting voluntary blood donation as an act of social responsibility. Overall, blood transfusion stands as one of the greatest achievements in modern medicine, continuously evolving to save lives more safely and effectively.

Blood transfusion; blood components; ABO blood group; Karl Landsteiner; transfusion safety; hemolytic reaction; synthetic blood; autologous transfusion; blood donation; transfusion medicine.

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