Shunts, stents and devices - Whole Blood and Components

Essential information

Includes

Shunts:

• For hydrocephalus e.g. ventriculo-peritoneal, -atrial, -pleural and lumboperitoneal shunts

Stents:

• Vascular stents including coronary artery stents
• Urinary tract stents including ureteric stents
• Ophthalmic stents including nasolacrimal and Schlemm canal stents

Pacemakers:

• Cardiac pacemakers
• Gastric pacemakers

Implanted neuromodulator and nerve stimulator devices, used for:

• Neuropathic pain – includes spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulators
• Bladder dysfunction - includes sacral nerve stimulators
• ​Gastroparesis – sometimes referred to as gastric pacemakers

Glucose monitoring devices:

• Real time continuous glucose monitors (rtCGM)
• ​Intermittently scanned glucose monitors (isCGM) – flash glucose monitors

Obligatory

Must not donate.

Discretionary

1. If the indication for an implanted neuromodulator device does not preclude donation and the site of implantation is fully healed, accept.
2. If an ophthalmic stent has been successfully inserted with good effect, the area has fully healed and there is no infection, accept.
3. If the reason for using a glucose monitoring device does not preclude donation and there is no inflammation or infection at, or around, the site of the skin sensor, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

• Anaemia
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Eye disease
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Kidney and bladder disease
• Neurosurgery
• Spina bifida

Additional information

Some shunts and stents can be a source of bacterial infection due to their location in the body and infection can be present without symptoms.

Bacteria can be a serious threat to anybody receiving blood or blood components. This is because bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels after collection.

Implanted neuromodulator devices and some stents are not a covert infection risk once the implantation site is fully healed and there are no signs of infection or inflammation.

Care should be taken to ensure that the underlying condition that requires the use of a neuromodulator device does not preclude donation, and that the donor is well at the time of donation.

Care should be taken to ensure that the reason that a glucose monitoring device is being used does not preclude donation or make it inadvisable at that time. These devices are not a covert infection risk as any local infection or inflammation should be apparent. The Diabetes mellitus entry should always be referred to for diabetic donors using these devices.

Reason for change:

Addition of advice for donors with glucose monitoring devices. Addition of Diabetes Mellitus to See if Relevant section.

Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 72 (31 July 2024)