Noida: The Postgraduate Institute of Child Health (PGICH) in Sector 30 has become the first government facility in GB Nagar to carry out granulocyte transfusions.
Granulocyte is a white blood cell type.
Granulocyte transfusion is carried out when patients suffering from bacterial or fungal infections do not respond to antimicrobial treatment (therapy that kills microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoa) for more than 48 hours.
Until now, cancer patients who need transfusion must be referred to a private hospital or to the medical university of King George or the Institute of Medical Sciences Sanjay Gandhi in Lucknow.
PGich began implementing the procedure in August this year and has made five transfusions so far in children aged between 8-12 years.
Two more are planned in the coming weeks.
Overall, around 400 cancer patients from the district were undergoing treatment at the Institute.
“Granulocytes or neutrophils are part of white blood cells that help the body fight infection.
Patients who have a very severe infection and a very low number of neutrophils require transfusion.
The Department of Medical Transfusion in PGich is the only government blood bank that provides this facility in GB Nagar, “said Dr.
Satyam Arora, Professor Associate (Research and Blood Transfusion Department), PGICH.
Granulocytes can be contributed by normal blood donors.
“All children who have undergone the procedure have benefited from this transfusion and there is no detrimental reaction that has been reported until now,” said Dr.
Arora.