Blood Transfusion Flashcards
What are the main reasons for transfusing blood?
1 - Bleeding
2 - Failure of production of blood
What causes there to be different blood groups?
Antigens
What is the A antigen?
N-acetyl-galactosamine
What is the B antigen?
Galactose
What is the O gene?
Non-functional allele
What antibodies do you have if your blood type is A?
B antibodies
What antibodies do you have if your blood type is B?
A antibodies
What antibodies do you have if your blood type is O
A and B antibodies
What antibodies do you have if your blood type is AB?
No antibodies against A and B
Regarding antibodies and antigens for blood types, which are found on blood cell surface?
Antigens
Regarding antibodies and antigens for blood types, which are found in the blood?
Antibodies
If a patient with blood Type A is given blood type B, what will happen?
The patient will make B antibodies
The A antigen and the B antibodies will clump together, resulting in Agglutination
What blood type is the universal donor?
Type O (they have no surface antigens, so A, B or AB patients will not react and produce any antibodies - which is good)
What blood type is the universal recipient?
Type AB
Why is there a difference in compatibility of patients and donors in FFP compared with red cell donors?
Because the red cell donors are only giving their red cells (which contain the surface antigens) and not giving their antibodies (which circulate in the plasma)
In the case of an FFP donor, which blood type is the universal donor?
AB
In the case of an FFP donor, which blood type is the universal recipient?
O
Which mode of inheritance is the Rh antigen inherited?
Mendellian
Which genotypes will have Rh+ phenotype?
RR
Rr
Which genotypes will have Rh- phenotype?
rr
If a Rh- woman and an Rh+ man have a child together, what phenotype will the fetus be?
Rh+
In the late stages of a pregnancy in which an Rh- woman is carrying an Rh+ baby, what will happen to the Rh status of the mother? What implications will this have for further pregnancies she has where the baby is Rh+ again
She will make Rh+ antibodies
During the 2nd pregnancy with another Rh+ baby, the Rh+ antibodies will attack the Rh antigens found on the fetal red blood cells - this is Rhesus disease
What happens to RBC’s in Rhesus disease?
They rupture
What diseases are blood from blood donors screened for?
Hepatitis B, C, E
HIV
Syphilis
What are the indications for a red blood cell transfusion?
1 - Correcting severe anaemia
2 - Improve quality of life in patient with uncorrectable anaemia
3 - Prepare a patient for surgery
4 - Reverese damage caused by the patients own cells (e.g. sickle cell disease)
What are the indications for a platelets transfusion?
1 - Massive haemorrhage
2 - Bone marrow failure
3 - Prophylaxis for surgery
What are the 2 different types of plasma components that are commonly transfused?
FFP
Cryoprecipitate
What is coombs test used to test for?
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
If red cells are required extremely urgently (minutes), what is the best blood type to give?
O RhD negative red cells
In massive haemorrhages, what should be ordered?
6 units of red cells
4 units FFP
1 unit platelets
What are the main risks associated with RBC transfusion?
TACO - Transfusion associated circulatory overload
Fever
Anaphylaxis
What are the common reasons for death related to transfusions?
Pulmonary complications
Delays in receiving product
What is the treatment if a patient suffers TACO following a transfusion?
O2
Diuretic
Ventilation
Adrenaline
How is haemolytic disease of the new born prevented?
Anti-D
How is Haemolytic disease of the newborn treated?
IGIN
Phototherapy for Jaundice
