01/26/2026
An exchange transfusion is a life-saving medical procedure that slowly removes a patient's blood and replaces it with donor blood (or components) to eliminate harmful substances, correct blood imbalances, and treat severe conditions like neonatal jaundice, sickle cell disease crises, or certain poisonings. It works by taking small amounts (aliquots) of the patient's blood out while simultaneously giving fresh donor blood in, often via a double-lumen catheter, to prevent drastic changes in blood volume and pressure, with the goal of replacing abnormal cells and toxin healthy ones.