Blood Products

Question 1

When is a blood transfusion useful?

Answer 1

• Severe anaemia
• Coagulopathy
• Thrombocytopenia
• Thrombopathia
  ○ Platelet abnormalities
• Hypoproteinaemia

Question 2

Examples of blood products

Answer 2

Fresh whole blood
Stored whole blood
Packed RBCs
Platelet rich plasma
Fresh frozen plasma
Stored plasma

Question 3

RBC transfusion uses

Answer 3

To assess anaemia
* If rapidly progressive clinical signs evident at 20-25%; chronic anaemia may have limited clinical signs at 10%
Animals requiring surgery ideally should have PCV of 20%

Question 4

Uses for fresh frozen plasma

Answer 4

• Coagulopathies
  ○ Liver disease
  ○ Anti-coagulant rodenticide toxicity
  ○ Hereditary
  ○ Heparin
  Protamine works well
  ○ Warfarin
• SIRS and sepsis
  ○ Parvo-/Pancreatitis
  ○ Evidence lacking
• Hypoproteinaemia
  ○ Colloid Oncotic Pressure better managed with colloids
  Some concerns about using colloids in sick animals

Question 5

Autotransfusion

Answer 5

Removal of blood from the cavity and re administered IV
No antibodies produced
RBCs aren’t killed off

Question 6

Blood typing in dogs

Answer 6

DEA1.1 -ve is universal donor
No alloantibodies important

Question 7

Blood typing in cats

Answer 7

More complex
A dominant over B
Should always type with cats

Question 8

Blood typing in horses

Answer 8

Theoretically AaQa-ve animals are ‘universal donors’
can usually avoid need for crossmatch for first 7 days
Horses destroy other RBCs fast but make their own slowly