Blood Transfusion

Question 1

What is a blood transfusion?

Answer 1

A blood transfusion is when blood is given from someone else (a donor).

Question 2

What are the different types of transfusion?

Answer 2

> Red cell
Platelet
Fresh frozen plasma (clotting factors, fibrinogen, plasma proteins, electrolytes, physiological anticoagulants)
Cryoprecipitate (Fibrinogen, Factor 8, Factor 13, Von Willebrand Factor, Fibronectin)
Prothrombin complex concentrate (F2, 9, 10)

Question 3

What are the shelf life’s of each type of transfusion?

Answer 3

Red cells (10 yrs frozen, 42 days thawed)
Platelets (5 days)
FFP (1 yr frozen, up to 5 days thawed)
Cryoprecipitate (1 yr frozen, 6 hours thawed)

Question 4

What are the indications of each type of transfusion?

Answer 4

> Red cell- blood loss or poor oxygen delivery
Platelets- Blood cancers which cause cytopenia, CNS trauma or cardiopulmonary bypass
FFP- Isolated factor deficiencies, reversal of warfarin, immunodeficiencies, massive blood transfusions
Cryoprecipitate- vWd, Haemophilia A, F8 deficiency, fibrinogen problems
Prothrombin complex concentrates- urgent reversal of Vit K antagonists if major acute bleed

Question 5

What complications might you get from a transfusion?

Answer 5

> AKI, anaemia, pulmonary oedema, shock

> Overtransfusion (e.g. iron overload, high pro-coagulation)