Performing therapeutic venesection in a doctor's surgery.

BACKGROUND

Although venesection was widely applied in the past for the treatment of various ailments and diseases, in modern medical practice, it is indicated in very few conditions, namely, hereditary haemochromatosis, polycythaemia and porphyria cutanea tarda.

OBJECTIVE

This article briefly reviews the pathophysiology of these conditions, and the rationale and goals of therapeutic venesection as a treatment modality. It also summarises the venesection procedure itself and the considerations for setting up a venesection service in a doctor's surgery.

DISCUSSION: Venesection is generally safe and carries few side effects. Before commencing therapeutic venesection, management goals in terms of laboratory parameters should be set for individual patients. These patients should be monitored regularly so that set targets are met and not overshot as to render them anaemic and acutely symptomatic. Venesections should also be performed by persons familiar with the procedure and management of the attendant complications.