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Does Iron Infusion For Anemia Carry Any Risks?

Posted on Tue, 24 Oct 2017

Question: Please describe iron infusion for anemia. I want the procedure explained and what are the risks? Is this an office procedure? How long does this take? Is there a recovery period. Any restrictions after the procedure? Is this condition related to gastric bypass surgery?

Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is office procedure. Nothing to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.

Iron infusion is a simple procedure. In that iron sucrose is given intravenously. Just like any other intravenous drug.

It is purely an office procedure. It hardly take an hour or two. As such there is no risk except you are allergic to this drug. Recovery time is not required. You can start your work after infusion.
There is no restrictions after procedure.

It is not related to gastric by pass surgery. But if you have gone through this operation then you are not able to absorb oral iron and that's why you need iron infusion

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (13 hours later)

Thank you. I just have 2 questions. You mentioned that after the gastric bypass surgery, the body does not absorb oral iron, then why prescibe it? Does this mean that will periodically the infusions continue?

Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained in detail

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.

Generally most of the oral iron is absorb in first part of intestine. That is duodenum. It is located just after stomach. In gastric by pass surgery food by pass this part so most of the iron is not absorbed. Some iron can be absorbed in other part also. But major iron absorption route is bypassed.

You have take iron rich food and oral iron supplements to maintain your iron level. But it is not able to maintain then injectable iron is necessary.

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.Wish you a very good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana