Therapeutic Phlebotomy

Therapeutic phlebotomy is a medical procedure that involves the removal of blood from a patient for therapeutic reasons rather than for transfusion. It is commonly used to treat conditions like hemochromatosis, where excess iron builds up in the body, or polycythemia vera, which causes the body to produce too many red blood cells. By drawing some blood, the procedure helps reduce these harmful levels, improving the patient’s health. The process is similar to donating blood but is specifically aimed at treating medical conditions.