359.038

HENDERSON APPARATUS FOR EXCHANGE TRANSFUSION [RECTE KEMPTON APPARATUS FOR SCALP VEIN TRANSFUSION] IN METAL CASE, TAPER MISSING.

Inscription

EDWARDS LONDON

Production date

1950

Production organisations

EDWARDS SURGICAL SUPPLY LTD.

Labels

Before the 1940s, many newborns suffered from haemolytic disease. Consequences of this could range from swelling, jaundice and even death. In the early 1940s it was found that most of these cases were caused by the Rhesus blood group of the mother being different to that of the newborn. The Rhesus positive mother produced antibodies to the Rhesus negative foetal blood, which damages the red cells, preventing them from working properly. Treatment for this was to remove the foetal blood and replace it with Rhesus negative blood, usually with a cannula inserted into the umbilical vein.

The apparatus here, however, was used to transfuse blood via the scalp vein of the neonate (newborn). It is known as Recte Kempton apparatus, made by Edwards surgical supplies of London. The method of use was published in the Lancet in 1950 by John Henderson.

Nowadays we know a lot more about Rhesus groups and the mother is treated with antibodies, so the number of cases of haemolytic disease has dropped dramatically.