Blood components for oral surgery.

World-wide blood demands are increasing at 18% per year. Around 50% of collected blood is used whole -- for surgery, accident victims, anaemias, malignancies, and haemoglobinopathies. Blood component therapy is placing extraordinary demands upon Blood Collection Services. This therapy uses multiple or single cell types, and a variety of plasma-derived components. Malignant over-growth depresses marrow function; and, active treatment, temporarily, similarly depresses cell production. Specific transfusion cells are available for the patient's protective mechanism. Platelets are required, fairly fresh, for depletion and for their primary clotting ability. Similarly, infused platelets are used to counter local or systemic drug sensitive platelet depression. From plasma components, specific coagulation products are available for health and during surgery for haemophilia, Christmas, and Von Willebrand's diseases. Prior to oral surgery, all possible coagulation abnormality problems need investigation and specific factors. Anti-coagulation therapy must be reduced or stopped as indicated by the need for therapy and the availability of the appropriate, previously depressed, Vitamin K dependent-clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X). Local measures, formerly the only treatment, are now of less importance. Some countries do not have these blood factors available.