10. Blood Transfusions

Question 1

What reasons will blood volume decrease?

Answer 1

• haemorrhage
• hypoproteinaemia
• anaemia
• coagulopathy
• immunodeficiency

Question 2

What considerations are there for blood donors?

Answer 2

• must be clinically healthy
• larger animals
• must never have had a transfusion themselves
• good temperament

Question 3

What do we look through when cross-matching?

Answer 3

• The compatibility between donor and recipient
• Minor cross-match – recipient cells are tested against donor plasma
• Major cross-match – donor cells are tested against recipient plasma

Question 4

How do we collect and store blood?

Answer 4

If blood is not going to be transfused within 4hr, it should be refrigerated at 4 degrees C

Blood should always be collected aseptically into sterile, anti-coagulated collection bags

Question 5

How do we work out the dose and rate of transfusion?

Answer 5

Blood volume required = Blood volume of recipient X PCV increase desired divided by PCV of donor

Question 6

What is plasma made of?

Answer 6

water, albumin, coagulation factors, anti-coagulation factors and antibodies

Question 7

How do we collect plasma for a plasma transfusion?

Answer 7

Plasma can be processed from anti-coagulated fresh whole blood by letting the cells form sediment, or by using a centrifuge

Plasma, unlike blood, can be frozen but must be thawed in warm water