TRANSFUSION REACTIONS

Course overview

TRANSFUSION REACTIONS ARE ADVERSE EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSFUSION OF WHOLE BLOOD OR ONE OF ITS COMPONENTS. THEY RANGE IN SEVERITY FROM MINOR TO LIFE-THREATENING AND CAN OCCUR DURING A TRANSFUSION, TERMED ACUTE TRANSFUSION REACTIONS, OR DAYS TO WEEKS LATER, TERMED DELAYED TRANSFUSION REACTIONS. TRANSFUSION REACTIONS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE AS THEY CAN PRESENT WITH NON-SPECIFIC, OFTEN OVERLAPPING SYMPTOMS. THE MOST COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS INCLUDE FEVER, CHILLS, URTICARIA, AND ITCHING. SOME SYMPTOMS MAY RESOLVE WITH LITTLE OR NO TREATMENT. HOWEVER, RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, HIGH FEVER, HYPOTENSION, AND HEMOGLOBINURIA MAY INDICATE A MORE SERIOUS REACTION. ALL CASES OF SUSPECTED REACTIONS SHOULD PROMPT IMMEDIATE DISCONTINUATION OF THE TRANSFUSION AND NOTIFICATION OF THE BLOOD BANK AND TREATING CLINICIAN. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF TRANSFUSION REACTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM MEMBERS IN COLLABORATING TO PROVIDE WELL-COORDINATED CARE AND ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.