Blood Transfusion In Practice

Question 1

What are the indications for different types of transfusions

Answer 1

Red cells-anemia

Platelets- thrombocytopenia

FFP- low coagulation factors

Cryoprecipitate- low fibrinogen

Question 2

Reasons for red cell transfusion

Answer 2

• prevent or correct severe acute anaemia
• to improve quality of life in patient with uncorrectbale anemia
• prepare a patient for surgery or speed up recovery
• reverse damage caused by patients own red cells- Sickle Cell Disease

Question 3

Indications for platelet transfusion

Answer 3

Prophylactically or therapeutically to stop bleeding,
Dilutional thrombocytopenia,
Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery,
DIC if bleeding, 
Abnormalities of platelet function

Question 4

Indications for FFP use

Answer 4

Replacement of coagulation factors due to major haemorrhage,
DIC while bleeding,
TTP,
Replacement of coagulation factor deficiencies where factor concentrate unavailable (eg no factor 5 concentrate)

Question 5

What coagulation factors does cryoprecipitate contain?

Answer 5

FVIII,
vWF,
Fibrinogen,
FXIII

Question 6

Indications for cryoprecipitate use

Answer 6

Hypofibrinogenaemia secondary to massive function,
DIC with bleeding and fibrinogen,
Bleeding associated with thrombolytic therapy causing hypofibrinogenaemia,
Renal or liver failure and abnormal bleeding,
Inherited hypofibrinogenaemia if fibrinogen concentrate

Question 7

MSBOS

Answer 7

Maximum Surgical Blood Order Schedule

Question 8

Acute Transfusion Reactions

Answer 8

Pyrexia,
Urticaria,
Dyspnoea,
Shock