Therapeutic Phlebotomy Procedures

Phlebotomy is the process of withdrawing blood from a patient's circulatory system. This procedure can also be employed for therapeutic use; therapeutic phlebotomy is commonly used when patients have polycythemia vera, a condition characterized by a high red blood cell count. Other applications of the procedure include treatments for patients with high amounts of iron in their blood, and for patients with pulmonary edema, where it is used to decrease the total blood volume.

Large Needle with Transfer Pack

• Procedures involving a transfer pack are commonly used in conjunction with a large, 19- or 21-gauge needle, also called a "butterfly." The needle is connected to a transfer pack via a tube with a clamp. A blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm and inflated, and venipuncture (blood collection) will be performed below the blood pressure cuff. The procedure generally takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Small Needle with Transfer Pack

• A smaller needle can also be used to perform therapeutic phlebotomy. The venipuncture procedure is more comfortable when smaller needles are used, and access to your veins will be better preserved for future phlebotomies. The process may take slightly longer due to lower blood flow rates from the smaller needle.

Syringes

• Phlebotomy can also be performed with syringes, where multiple syringes are used to draw blood rather than needles connected to a transfer pack. This procedure is often more uncomfortable, but may be the only method available if transfer packs cannot be obtained.