News Forum - Young Swiss man needs O negative blood donations after heatstroke on Thailand island

[Thaiger]

A 25 year old Swiss man needs donations of the blood type O negative (O-) after he went running on Koh Chang off the coast of the eastern province Trat and suffered a heatstroke. Theo Zwahlen is in a coma in the ICU at Bangkok Hospital in Chanthaburi. Theo has kidney failure, acidosis, brain damage, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and a low platelet count. He needs a large amount of blood donations to recover. According to the Red Cross, around 7% of the population has O negative blood, which lacks a protein known as the RhD antigen. If you are eligible, […]

The story Young Swiss man needs O negative blood donations after heatstroke on Thailand island as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Poolie]

4 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

If he has never been transfused before he could be given O pos blood. Of course this would sensitized him with D antigen and he would have problems if he receive rH positive blood again. So first time is ok but only once.

It sounds like it is more than heatstroke though because the need for a transfusion would indicate something else. 

Well it sounds as though he needs diagnosing first. So off you go and when you've decided, let us know.

[LoongFred]

5 minutes ago, Poolie said:

Well it sounds as though he needs diagnosing first. So off you go and when you've decided, let us know.

Exactly. A health 25 year old that's been jogging on the beach doesn't end up like this. Normally heat stroke treatment is an ice bath to get temperature down and fluids. Of course can put someone in a comma because of accompanying stroke etc. If the description is accurate he's in a very bad way. If blood is needed they must be planning an operation. However, O+ could be used if no prior transfusions with O+ blood. O+ is common in Thailand. 

[Cabra]

I'm B-negative, sorry.

[Marble-eye]

51 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

If he has never been transfused before he could be given O pos blood. Of course this would sensitized him with D antigen and he would have problems if he receive rH positive blood again. So first time is ok but only once.

It sounds like it is more than heatstroke though because the need for a transfusion would indicate something else. 

Do you have a link to that possible misleading remark that he could be given O+ blood. I am not saying you are wrong but being an O Neg blood group I have never heard of it.

I don't meet the requirements of donating blood being of a certain age.

[Soidog]

32 minutes ago, Marble-eye said:

Do you have a link to that possible misleading remark that he could be given O+ blood. I am not saying you are wrong but being an O Neg blood group I have never heard of it.

I don't meet the requirements of donating blood being of a certain age.

No neither have I. You can give O- to many other blood groups and it’s one reason why O- is carried by paramedics. O- is often referred to as the Universal Blood for this reason. Let’s await the link and we may all learn something …..

[LoongFred]

54 minutes ago, Cabra said:

I'm B-negative, sorry.

Yea. ABO group are type specific only. But rH is different. In the US we would give washed cells. If plasma were needed we would give thawed frozen plasma. In this case we'd used fresh frozen O negative plasma. I'm sure the Thai Red Cross has a process.

[Tim_Melb]

1 hour ago, LoongFred said:

Exactly. A health 25 year old that's been jogging on the beach doesn't end up like this. Normally heat stroke treatment is an ice bath to get temperature down and fluids. Of course can put someone in a comma because of accompanying stroke etc. If the description is accurate he's in a very bad way. If blood is needed they must be planning an operation. However, O+ could be used if no prior transfusions with O+ blood. O+ is common in Thailand. 

That all depends entirely on how high his body temperature went and for how long ng and what level of dehydration he was at the effects of renal failure and other conditions triggered by the heat stroke can trigger a cascade of problems. I suggest you leave diagnosis to the treating healthcare professionals and give up on you amateur online theories. Certainly your transfusion suggestion is absurd given his condition the last thing you want to do is introduce another risk factor to somebody in renal failure. 

[LoongFred]

1 minute ago, LoongFred said:

Yea. ABO group are type specific only. But rH is different. In the US we would give washed cells. If plasma were needed we would give thawed frozen plasma. In this case we'd used fresh frozen O negative plasma. I'm sure the Thai Red Cross has a process.

 

3 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

Yea. ABO group are type specific only. But rH is different. In the US we would give washed cells. If plasma were needed we would give thawed frozen plasma. In this case we'd used fresh frozen O negative plasma. I'm sure the Thai Red Cross has a process.

I don't want to start a controversy about transfusion choices. Yes, paramedics carry O negative blood because it's the safest bet in traumas. But it's not that simple. The best bet is to ask for assistance from the Thai Red Cross. They have transfusion experts (SBB certified? ) and can sort through issues. What I'm saying is that for a male who's never been transfused O+ could be substituted. Sure he'd develop a anti D antibody and a future transfusion with O+ would not be possible. Women can be sensitized if Oneg with a Opos baby, but we can deal with that with rhogam (anti D) shots.

Talk with Thai Red Cross or a hemopathologist.

[LoongFred]

6 minutes ago, Tim_Melb said:

That all depends entirely on how high his body temperature went and for how long ng and what level of dehydration he was at the effects of renal failure and other conditions triggered by the heat stroke can trigger a cascade of problems. I suggest you leave diagnosis to the treating healthcare professionals and give up on you amateur online theories. Certainly your transfusion suggestion is absurd given his condition the last thing you want to do is introduce another risk factor to somebody in renal failure. 

I agree with part of what you say. The treating health care professions need to direct care.  All I'm saying is that there are alternatives to giving O negative blood and that this isn't a crisis. Everything else wrong with this patient is critical.

My suggestion has been all along to talk to the Thai Red Cross transfusion specialists or a hemopathologist. 

[Marble-eye]

4 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

I agree with part of what you say. The treating health care professions need to direct care.  All I'm saying is that there are alternatives to giving O negative blood and that this isn't a crisis. Everything else wrong with this patient is critical.

My suggestion has been all along to talk to the Thai Red Cross transfusion specialists or a hemopathologist. 

This is from the NHS own website seeing you don't want to provide a link.

 

"What blood can O negative people receive?

Only O negative blood

People with O negative blood can only receive red cell donations from O negative donors."

https://www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/blood-types/o-negative-blood-type/

 

[Grumpish]

26 minutes ago, Marble-eye said:

This is from the NHS own website seeing you don't want to provide a link.

"What blood can O negative people receive?

Only O negative blood

People with O negative blood can only receive red cell donations from O negative donors."

https://www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/blood-types/o-negative-blood-type/

I have this blood type and on more than one occasion was asked for a double donation when giving blood, because of an emergency case needing that blood type.

[Tanuki]

I have O negative blood, and would happily donate to the Red Cross, but a) I'm in Hua Hin, and b) I've been told by a few ex-pats that at my age of 62 the R/C will tell me I'm to old..

[Marble-eye]

7 minutes ago, Tanuki said:

I have O negative blood, and would happily donate to the Red Cross, but a) I'm in Hua Hin, and b) I've been told by a few ex-pats that at my age of 62 the R/C will tell me I'm to old..

You can give blood up to 70 years old providing you are a regular donor, non regulars the age limit is 58.

"In Thailand, according to the Red Cross, people of the age of 17 can donate blood, assuming they bring parental consent. The upper limit is set to 70 years old – but only for regular blood donors. The first-time donors must not be older than 55 years old"

https://www.pacificprime.co.th/blog/world-blood-donor-day-2020-why-should-you-donate-blood/

[Guest1]

46 minutes ago, Marble-eye said:

The first-time donors must not be older than 55 years old"

That, I assume, is for , as it said, regular donors. Or people spending NOT to a specific person/emergency.

Emergency use, like here, is, afaik, not age limited!

But: The hospital name is in the topic, Tanuki can call/mail 'em up.

 

[LoongFred]

1 hour ago, Marble-eye said:

This is from the NHS own website seeing you don't want to provide a link.

"What blood can O negative people receive?

Only O negative blood

People with O negative blood can only receive red cell donations from O negative donors."

https://www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/blood-types/o-negative-blood-type/

Thanks for the reference, but when required safe exceptions are made. This is not an everyday occurrence but it can be safely made for patients that don't have anti D antibodies. That said it's only in the case of an emergency. My best friend and colleague was a hemopathologist and I asked him about myself. I'm A- , he told met that a emergency transfusion would be OK as long as the antibody screen was negative. This not a good idea normally if Rh negative blood is available. I don't know if any Thais are Rh - but if so it's very rare.

I am surprised because in this case heat stroke would not require a transfusion. 

Best not to rely on Google for answers and talk to those with indepth knowledge.

[Marble-eye]

2 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

Best not to rely on Google for answers and talk to those with indepth knowledge.

Yes of course Fred, I shall ignore the NHS advice and follow your advice, what can possibly go wrong.

[Soidog]

11 minutes ago, Marble-eye said:

Yes of course Fred, I shall ignore the NHS advice and follow your advice, what can possibly go wrong.

Hopefully someone will remove the original post. Posting dodgy advice about medical matters shouldn’t be allowed. New heights being scaled I think with this guy. Let’s move on…

[LoongFred]

1 hour ago, Soidog said:

Hopefully someone will remove the original post. Posting dodgy advice about medical matters shouldn’t be allowed. New heights being scaled I think with this guy. Let’s move on…

Sorry you disagree, but I knew you would.

You need to check with those who know. The problems is  people commenting about thing completely beyond their comprehension

I have 40+ years experience in laboratory medicine. Although I wouldn't say it was common and not a big deal. Check at any Thai medical university or the Thai Red Cross.  I'm sure they'll confirm what I have said.

However, I really burned out on this and have to refer you to other experts.

Good night.

 

 

[LoongFred]

1 hour ago, Soidog said:

Hopefully someone will remove the original post. Posting dodgy advice about medical matters shouldn’t be allowed. New heights being scaled I think with this guy. Let’s move on…

The NHS advise and it's good advise under normal situations. But they would agree if O- were not available, O+ could be used on a one time basis. Needs approval from a hemopathologist though.

[Marble-eye]

1 minute ago, LoongFred said:

The NHS advise and it's good advise under normal situations. But they would agree if O- were not available, O+ could be used on a one time basis. Needs approval from a hemopathologist though.

Still waiting for a link to your spurious 'advice' Fred. If you cannot provide such evidence it might be an idea to remove your iffy advice.

[King Cotton]

1 minute ago, Marble-eye said:

Still waiting for a link to your spurious 'advice' Fred. If you cannot provide such evidence it might be an idea to remove your iffy advice.

Or to take up knitting, perhaps. 

[Smithydog]

Members,

Our advice has been, and remains, is to only take medical advice from trusted medical professionals and not via any forum comment. All our bodies are vastly different and whilst some advice may seem sound or some not, your own body could act differently to others.

Also, if you have an issue with a post, report it, stating clearly why so the Moderators can assess. Commentary on the Forum about suggestive actions for the Moderators to take are not appreciated and will likely only end up with a result of you being in trouble yourself!

Moderator

 

[dj230]

Unfortunate, I am in Bangkok, although I am O- blood, I have plenty of blood because I workout quite often, many times my RBC and hemoglobin is high normal or above that. 

Can I go to a Red Cross in Bangkok? 

Edited March 15, 2022 by dj230

[King Cotton]

9 minutes ago, dj230 said:

Unfortunate, I am in Bangkok, although I am O- blood, I have plenty of blood because I workout quite often, many times my RBC and hemoglobin is high normal or above that. 

Can I go to a Red Cross in Bangkok? 

Hi, @dj230, as @Marble-eye's earlier post (178395) graphically depicted, your O- blood is the most wanted of all blood types, with it being 'donatable' to all other blood groups. Maybe best to check with the Red Cross, first, though.