THERAPEUTICS - Blood Transfusions Flashcards
What are the two main indicators for administering blood products?
Management of haemostatic disorders
Management of anaemia
What are the five commercially available blood products available for dogs?
Whole blood
Packed red blood cells (pRBCs)
Plasma (fresh frozen and frozen)
Cryoprecipitate
Platelet-rich plasma
How long can whole blood be stored for?
Whole blood can be stored for 28 days at 4°C
How long can packed red blood cells (pRBCs) be stored for?
Packed red blood cells (pRBCs) can be stored for 43 days at 4°C
When would it be appropriate to use packed red blood cells (pRBCs) over whole blood?
Use packed red blood cells (pRBC) to manage anaemia in normovolaemic patients, as if you use whole blood to manage anaemia in normovolaemic patients, there is a risk of fluid overload
How long can fresh frozen plasma be stored for?
Fresh frozen plasma can be stored for a year at -20°C
When would plasma be classified as frozen?
Plasma is classified as frozen if it has been stored at -20°C for over a year. Frozen plasma can be stored for 5 years
What are the indicators for administering fresh frozen/frozen plasma?
To manage haemostatic disorders
To manage hypoproteinaemia
What are the commercially available blood products available for cats?
Whole blood
What is the main risk of a blood transfusion?
Blood transfusion reactions
What are the two main classifications of blood transfusion reactions?
Immunologic blood transfusion reactions
Non-immunologic blood transfusion reactions
What are immunologic blood transfusion reactions?
Immunologic blood transfusion reactions are where there is an immune-mediated response against the transfused erythrocyte antigens
What are the two classifications of immunologic blood transfusion reactions?
Haemolytic
Non-haemolytic
What causes haemolytic blood transfusion reactions?
Haemolytic transfusion reactions are caused by the administration of incompatable or mismatched blood as the body can generate antibodies against the surface antigen of the transfused blood
What causes an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction?
An acute haemolytic transfusion reaction is caused by intravascular haemolysis of the transfused blood, which can result in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), hypotension and death
What causes a delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction?
A delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction presents 2 to 21 days post transfusion due to extravascular haemolysis of the transfused blood, which will negate the benefits of the transfusion
What can be done to minimise the risk of haemolytic transfusion reactions?
Blood typing
Cross-matching
How are blood types determined?
Blood types are determined based on the inherited surface antigens present on the erythrocytes
What are allo-antibodies?
Allo-antibodies are pre-existing antibodies against other blood types
(T/F) Dogs have naturally occurring allo-antibodies
FALSE. Dogs do not typically have naturally occurring allo-antibodies present
What is the significance of dogs not typically having naturally occurring allo-antibodies?
Because dogs do not typically have naturally occurring allo-antibodies, this means that for their first transfusion, it is safe to transfuse any blood type (though this is not best practice), however you will be required to cross-match any subsequent transfusions as the dog will have developed antibodies against the originally transfused blood type
Which blood type system is used in dogs?
DEA blood typing system
Which DEA blood type is most significant and why?
DEA 1.1 is highly antigenic and thus induces a profound immune response when administered to DEA 1.1 negative dogs, as the antibodies produced agaisnt the DEA 1.1 blood type are both haemolysins and agglutinins, which can cause a severe haemolytic transfusion reaction following subsequent transfusions
Which blood type should be transfused in dogs that are DEA 1.1 negative?
DEA 1.1 negative blood should be transfused to dogs wih DEA 1.1 negative blood
Which blood type should be transfused in dogs that are DEA 1.1 positive?
DEA 1.1 positive blood should be transfused to dogs wih DEA 1.1 positive blood
(T/F) Cats have naturally occurring allo-antibodies
TRUE.