(tranz-FYOO-zhun)

A procedure in which whole blood or parts of blood are put into a patient’s bloodstream through a vein. The blood may be donated by another person or it may have been taken from the patient and stored until needed. Also called blood transfusion.

Figure

Blood transfusion. A patient is given blood through an intravenous (IV) catheter in the arm. The blood may be donated by another person, or it may have been taken from the patient and stored until needed.