What phlebotomy means is removing blood from your body, generally from a vein. This procedure is commonly done for your blood to be diagnostically tested or for blood donation.
However, phlebotomy is also used as a form of treatment for various health conditions. When phlebotomy is performed as part of treatment it is sometimes referred to as therapeutic phlebotomy, venesection or bloodletting.
Bloodletting treatment removes a substantial volume of blood because some health condition has either caused a blood abnormality or its removal relieves some sort of blood congestion.
Hemochromatosis is a condition for which phlebotomy is commonly used. Yet, venesection might also be employed to treat:
Bloodletting may not be considered if you are anemic or have cardiovascular disease.
The amount of blood drawn and how often depends on you unique situation. During and afterwards you may feel dizzy or nauseated. And therapeutic phlebotomy may also cause:
- thrombocytosis
- chronic iron deficiency anemia
- puncture site infection, bruise, soreness
Whether you call it phlebotomy, venesection or bloodletting, the professional title of an individual who only draws blood is called a phlebotomist. Albeit, doctors and nurses are trained to do it as well.