Transfusion Reactions
What should we worry about most when giving a patient a transfusion? HIV? Hepatitis C? Nope, we should worry most about transfusion reactions!
Modern-day transfusion has become much more safe than in decades past. Incredible advances in testing for transfusion-transmitted diseases have rendered those infections extremely uncommon. The current nationwide emphasis on blood management is starting to impact the way that transfusions are ordered (and not ordered!), with an eye toward improving patient safety. However, transfusion reactions still occur, and they cause the vast majority of deaths reported to the FDA year after year.
Transfusion reactions can take many shapes, sizes, and forms. This module will deal with the essentials of how to recognize transfusion reactions, evaluate them at the bedside and in the laboratory, and treat and prevent them. We will deal first with the general principles of recognizing and evaluating possible reactions, then hone in on significant aspects of specific transfusion reactions. I recommend that you start with part 1 (overall philosophy and workup) then proceed to the individual reactions, but the choice is yours. Click one of the links below to get started.
- Overall Philosophy and Workup (Start here!)
- Specific Transfusion Reactions