Blood Transfuions Flashcards
What do you need to document when prescribing a blood transfusion?
Patients details Your signature Date Blood components, volume and donation Any special requirements Consent
What are some of the potential complications of blood transfusions?
Prions diseases
Circulatory overload
Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction
Shock
What disease is a potential complication of blood transfusions?
Prions disease
What is another name for Prions disease?
Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD)
How do you treat prions disease?
By stopping the transfusion
When prions disease occurs due to a blood transfusion, what should you consider?
Wrong blood used for the patient
Circulatory overload
Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction
Anaphylaxis
If a patient is anaemic after a blood transfusion, how can you confirm that the transfusion is the cause?
Blood film will show a normochromic and normocytic anaemia
As the reticulocyte count will be high
A DAGT will be positive
Alloantibodies will be found
What type of antibodies can be found in anaemic patients who have had a blood transfusion?
Allo-antibodies
What are the 4 different types of blood transfusions?
RBCs
FPP
Platelets
Cryoprecipitate
If RBCs are to be used for a blood transfusion, what temperature should they be stored at?
4 degrees
If FFP is to be used for a blood transfusion, how long do you need to wait for it to thaw?
30mins
What are the indications for using RBCs for a blood transfusion?
Sickle cell disease
Anaemia that is severe or uncontrollable
What are the indications for using platelets or FFP for a blood transfusion?
Haemorrhage
DIC
Thrombocytopenia
Platelet disorders (obvs only for platelets)
What are the indications for using cryoprecipitate for a blood transfusion?
DIC
Renal failure
Hypofibrogenemia
What type of hypersensitivity is involved with blood types?
Type 2
B for blood types
What do you need to know about a blood donation?
Sex
Age
Recent travelling
Tattoos
What is blood given by donors screened for?
Hepatitis (Hep B, C and E)
HIV
Syphillis
What is the main cause of acute haemolytic transfusion reaction?
ABO incompatibility
What are some of the clinical features of acute haemolytic transfusion reaction?
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Back pain
Dysponea
Levels of what are increased, and therefore can be tested for, in acute haemolytic transfusion reaction?
Unconjugated bilirubin
How is an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction managed?
Stop the bloody transfusion
High flow O2
IV fluids
How much is 1 unit of blood?
525ml
1 pint
