Haem: Blood Tranfusions 2 Flashcards
What is the difference between acute and delayed transfusion reactions?
Acute < 24 hours
Delayed > 24 hours
List some causes of acute transfusion reactions.
- Acute haemolytic (ABO incompatibility)
- Allergic/anaphylaxis
- Infection (bacterial)
- Febrile non-haemolytic
- Respiratory (TACO and TRALI)
List some causes of delayed transfusion reactions.
- Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction
- Infection (viral, malaria, vCJD)
- TA-GvHD
- Post-transfusion purura
- Iron overload
What is the most common transfusion reaction?
Transplant-associated circulatory overload (TACO)
What are some early features that might be suggestive of acute transfusion reaction?
- Rise in temperature or pulse
- Fall in BP
NOTE: these can occur before the patient experiences any symptoms
List some symptoms of an acute transfusion reaction.
- Fever
- Rigors
- Flushing
- Vomiting
- Dyspnoea
- Pain at transfusion site
- Collapse
If the patient is unconscious, how might you detect an early transfusion reaction?
- Baseline temperature, pulse, RR and BP before transfusion
- Repeat every 15 mins (most reactions start within 15 mins)
- Repeat hourly and at the end of the transfusion
What are the clinical features of a febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction?
- Occurs during/soon after transfusion (of blood or platelets)
- Rise in temperature, chills and rigors
NOTE: this used to be common before blood was leucodepleted
What causes febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions?
Release of cytokines from white cell during storage
How is febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction treated?
Slow/stop the transfusion and treated with paracetamol
Describe the clinical features of an allergic transfusion reaction.
- Mild urticarial or itchy rash
- Sometimes causes a wheeze
How is an allergic transfusion reaction managed?
- Stop or slow the transfusion
- IV antihistamines
What usually causes allergic transfusion reactions?
Allergy to plasma protein in the donor
NOTE: it is more common in patients with a history of atopic disease and it may not recur
Which blood product is most likely to cause an allergic transfusion reaction?
Plasma
List some symptoms of an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction.
- Chest/loin pain
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Flushing
- Collapse
- Haemoglobinuria
- Low BP
- High HR
- High Temp
In an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction, why is it important to take a blood sample?
Send for FBC, biochemistry, coagulation, repeat X-match and DAT
How does bacterial contamination from donated blood products present?
Similarly to ABO mismatch
What causes bacterial infection from donated blood products?
- Bacteria can produce an endotoxin that causes immediate collapse
- The bacteria could have come from the donor or from the processing of blood products
List blood products in order of likelihood of getting contaminated?
- Platelets (MOST LIKELY)
- RBCs
- Plasma (least likely)
What measures can be taken to reduce the likelihood of bacterial contamination?
- Donor questioning
- Arm cleaning
- Diversion of first 20 mL into a pouch
Describe the storage and shelf-life of RBCs.
- Stored in a 4 degree fridge for 35 days
- If it is kept out for > 30 mins it cannot go back in the fridge
- Complete transfusion must take place within 4.5 hours of leaving the fridge
Describe the storage and shelf-life of platelets.
Stored at 22 degrees for 7 days
NOTE: they are screened for bacteria before relase