Blood Transfusion

Question 1

What must a blood donation be?

Answer 1

Species specific

Question 2

What are donor requirements?

Answer 2

• Fully vaccinated and regularly boosted
• Healthy and Fit adult 1-8years
• Dogs >25kg and Cats >4kg (HEALTHY WEIGHT!)
• Normal Bloods and PCV
• Not travelled abroad
• No infectious diseases
• Not on medication
• Good temperament

Question 3

How much blood is taken from a donor?

Answer 3

Dog: 1 pint or unit (450mls)
Cat: 50-60mls

Question 4

What is an autogenous blood donation?

Answer 4

Blood is taken from an animal to be used later in the same animal

Question 5

What is a heterogenous blood donation?

Answer 5

Blood taken from one animal to give to another animal

Question 6

What must be done to the blood once collected?

Answer 6

Mixed with an anti-coagulant:

• heparin for immediate use
• Acid citrate dextrose (ACD) -> stored for 2 weeks
• Citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD) –> stored for 4w

Question 7

What blood products can you get for dogs?

Answer 7

• whole blood
• Packed red cells
• Plasma
• Plasma products
• Platelet products

Question 8

When would you give packed red cells?

Answer 8

If patient has low RBC count but normal blood volume

Question 9

When would plasma be given?

Answer 9

Low blood volume or plasma loss via burns/scalds

Question 10

What plasma products can you get and what’s in them ?

Answer 10

Cryoprecipitate - clotting factors

Cryosupernatant - clotting factors and plasma proteins

Question 11

What could be used for a patient with thrombocytopenia?

Answer 11

Platelet products - platelet rich plasma

Question 12

What temperature should blood be stored at?

Answer 12

Less than 4 degrees for up to 3 months or frozen under -18 degrees for up to 1 year

Question 13

What blood types can dogs be?

Answer 13

Dogs either are positive (i.e. have a Dog Erythrocyte Antigen or DEA present on surface of RBCs)
or Negative (and don't have DEA).
So can't give a dog that is negative, positive blood

Question 14

What blood types can cats be?

Answer 14

A, B, AB

Question 15

Why are blood transfusions not common in cats?

Answer 15

Very risky! Huge risk of reaction

Question 16

What happens if an untyped dog is given untyped blood?

Answer 16

60% of the time, this will work. But once it’s had one transfusion the immune system is on high alert and the risk is increased subsequently

Question 17

What is gold standard for blood transfusions?

Answer 17

Type and cross match every transfusion. Should ALWAYS type in cats regardless!

Question 18

Describe how you would cross match a blood transfusion

Answer 18

2 tests: Major and Minor

1. Major - mix together Donor RBCs with Recipient plasma - look for reactions, clumping etc,
2. Minor - mix donor plasma with recipient RBCs - look for reactions

Ideally, no reactions on either, but if only a minor reaction its still safe to use.

Question 19

What should you do when starting the transfusion?

Answer 19

• Check bag for damage, type, expiry, clots…
• Warm gently to 37 degrees
• use a blood administration set
• start slowly (1ml/kg/hr) and check for reaction signs, then increase rate (5-10mls/kg/hr) if no signs

Question 20

What should you be monitoring during a transfusion?

Answer 20

Vital signs: HR, CRT, MM colour …etc

Question 21

Describe the 2 types of acute reaction to transfusion?

Answer 21

1. Intravascular haemolysis
   - very serious
   - fever, tachycardia, dyspnoea, vomiting, shock, DIC
2. Extravascular haemolysis
   - milder signs
   - hyperbilirubinemia

Question 22

What is a delayed reaction to transfusion?

Answer 22

Can occur between 24 hours after up to 21 days after!

• Reduced PCV, fever anorexia
• Good to get patient back for follow-up