APPENDIX 8: Common Complications Associated with Transfusion of a Blood Component Common Complications Associated with Transfusion of a Component Problem Likely Timing of Event Severity Management and Prevention Acute Event Intravascular ABO Almost Potentially fatal 10% Mortality Haemolysis incompatibility immediately Check for DIC and renal following of failure transfusion Maintain BP and renal perfusion Contact: On-call Haematologist, T P, Transfusion Laboratory Initiate RED Safety Learning Event report (Datix) TACO Rapidly infused, Occurs usually Potentially fatal Accurate assessment of (Transfusion large volume within 2 - 6 hours patients at risk of TACO Associated infusions or high of transfusion Careful attention to fluid Circulatory TACO risk patients balance Overload) Consider appropriateness of transfusion Consider rate of transfusion and diuretic cover Initiate Safety Learning Event report (Datix) TRALI Leucocyte During or within Potentially fatal Manage as for ARDS refer (Transfusion Antibodies in donor 6 hours of to Critical Care Team Related Acute blood transfusion Chest X-Ray shows – – Lung Injury) RARE but can bilateral pulmonary be confused with infiltrates ARDS (Acute Initiate AMBER Safety Respiratory Learning Event report Distress (Datix) Syndrome) TAD Transfusion of donor Respiratory Potentially fatal Assess respiratory distress (Transfusion blood and patient distress within CXR Associated 24 hours of Oxygen saturations and Dyspnoea) transfusion and ABG’s no other Initiate Safety Learning associated Event report (Datix) grade cause appropriately Anaphylaxis IgA Antibodies in Immediate Potentially fatal Maintain ABC’s and follow donor or recipient Anaphylaxis Policy Initiate Safety Learning Event report (Datix) grade appropriately Septic Shock Bacterial During Potentially fatal Manage septicemia contamination transfusion Initiate Safety Learning Event report (Datix) grade appropriately
APPENDIX 8: Common Complications Associated with Transfusion of a Blood Component Common Complications Associated with Transfusion of a Component Problem Likely Timing of Event Severity Management and Prevention Acute Event Intravascular Haemolysis ABO incompatibility Almost immediately following of transfusion Potentially fatal 10% Mortality Check for DIC and renal failure Maintain BP and renal perfusion Contact: On-call Haematologist, T P, Transfusion Laboratory Initiate RED Safety Learning Event report (Datix) TACO (Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload) Rapidly infused, large volume infusions or high TACO risk patients Occurs usually within 2 - 6 hours of transfusion Potentially fatal Accurate assessment of patients at risk of TACO Careful attention to fluid balance Consider appropriateness of transfusion Consider rate of transfusion and diuretic cover Initiate Safety Learning Event report (Datix) TRALI (Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury) Leucocyte Antibodies in donor blood During or within 6 hours of transfusion – RARE but can be confused with ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) Potentially fatal Manage as for ARDS refer to Critical Care Team Chest X-Ray – shows bilateral pulmonary infiltrates Initiate AMBER Safety Learning Event report (Datix) TAD (Transfusion Associated Dyspnoea) Transfusion of donor blood and patient Respiratory distress within 24 hours of transfusion and no other associated cause Potentially fatal Assess respiratory distress CXR Oxygen saturations and ABG’s Initiate Safety Learning Event report (Datix) grade appropriately Anaphylaxis IgA Antibodies in donor or recipient Immediate Potentially fatal Maintain ABC’s and follow Anaphylaxis Policy Initiate Safety Learning Event report (Datix) grade appropriately Septic Shock Bacterial contamination During transfusion Potentially fatal Manage septicemia Initiate Safety Learning Event report (Datix) grade appropriately
Transfusion%20Policy%20Adult.docx