Therapeutic Phlebotomy

What Is It?

Phlebotomy originates from the Greek words phlebos, meaning veins and tomos, meaning to cut. Phlebotomy refers to any procedure that involves cutting the vein to remove blood.

Most people associate phlebotomies with drawing blood for testing, but it can also be done therapeutically to improve a patient’s condition and treat diseases.

Therapeutic phlebotomy (or therapeutic bleeding) is a procedure that reduces the number of red blood cells or excessive iron in your body by removing whole blood.

Why Is It Important?

While red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to all parts of your body, too many of them can cause thickened blood (increased viscosity) with slow blood flow. This can result in reduced oxygen delivery to body tissues and increased blood clots. Too much iron in the blood causes a toxic overload which can lead to organ damage, joint pain, and long-term health concerns.

How Do I Get The Procedure?

Simple! Schedule an appointment online, or give us a call today to see if we can help you.

Why is it done?

Therapeutic phlebotomy is done to treat certain diseases that cause a rise in iron levels in the body. The procedure removes red blood cells, causing iron levels to drop. Iron is a mineral your body needs, and excess iron may lead to problems such as liver failure, an irregular heartbeat, and diabetes.

Your doctor may advise this procedure if you have:

Hemochromatosis, a disease that causes high iron levels
Sickle cell disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Porphyria cutanea tarda, a rare blood disorder that causes blisters to form when the skin is exposed to sunlight
Polycythemia Vera
Drug induced Polycythemia from testosterone replacement therapy or other medication