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Blood Transfusion

Posted July 1, 2008 7:40 PM
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by Editorial Staff and Contributors


Definition

A treatment that involves receiving blood products (red cells, white cells, platelets, clotting factors, plasma, or whole blood) through a vein. The blood components may come from an unrelated donor, from a related donor, or may have been banked in advance by the recipient.


Parts of the Body Involved

Transfusion involves the blood and veins.


Reasons for Procedure

  • Extreme blood and fluid loss due to injury, surgery, or disease
  • Severe anemia , including sickle cell anemia
  • Bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand's disease or hemophilia
  • Immunodeficiency
  • Leukemia
  • Autoimmune disease or disorders of the spleen resulting in destruction of blood cells or bone marrow
  • Rh-incompatibility in newborn babies

Risk Factors for Complications During the Procedure


What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

You will have a blood test to determine your specific blood type, so that the donor blood can be carefully matched. You'll also be given a physical exam, and your baseline vital signs will be recorded. These include temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Often times, you may be given Tylenol and Benadryl before you receive a transfusion. Although blood is carefully matched before it is given, sometimes there are minor incompatibilities between donor and host blood and these drugs will help reduce a minor allergic reaction.

During Procedure

An IV will be set-up, with bag of blood product. If possible, the IV needle is placed in your hand or arm.

Anesthesia

There is no anesthesia for this procedure.

Description of the Procedure

A needle is placed in one of your veins. A bag containing the blood product is hung on a pole nearby, and its contents are dripped slowly, intravenously (through the vein) into your bloodstream.

Common IV Placement

IV arm

© 2008 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc.

Throughout the transfusion, your temperature, heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure are checked regularly, and you are questioned about pain, itching, or discomfort of any sort. This monitoring is most careful during the first 15 minutes of the transfusion, since most reactions occur early in a blood transfusion.

Once the bag containing the blood product is empty, the needle in your arm is removed.

After Procedure

Your vital signs, including temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure, will be monitored. Your physician will give you specific instructions based on the condition for which you received the blood transfusion. In some cases, you may need to take a diuretic (medication that reduces swelling and fluid retention) either after the infusion or between units of blood (if applicable).

How Long Will It Take?

The blood transfusion will take about 2 to 4 hours.

Will It Hurt?

Having the intravenous needle placed is mildly painful; once it is in place, it should not cause pain.

Possible Complications

Allergic reactions or reactions due to mismatching blood types can occur. Symptoms include:

  • Fever and chills
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Chest and/or back pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Swelling
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Muscle spasm
  • Blood in the urine

Although careful testing has greatly decreased the incidence, certain infections can be transmitted in blood transfusions. These include:

Average Hospital Stay

There is no hospital stay for blood transfusions.

Postoperative Care

Blood tests may be done to determine the efficacy of the transfusion. Based on your medical condition, your doctor will give you specific suggestions regarding what activities you may resume after blood transfusion.


Outcome

Your blood count, a measurement of the specific blood component(s) you received during the transfusion, should improve.


Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occurs

  • Dizziness
  • Signs of infection, including fever and chills
  • Shortness of breath, wheezing
  • New onset of pain, especially in back or chest
  • Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge where the needle was inserted
  • New rash, hives, itching
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Blood in urine
  • Swelling in legs, feet, hands, arms, or face

RESOURCES:

American Association of Blood Banks
http://www.aabb.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Mt. Sinai Hospital Toronto
http://www.mtsinai.on.ca/Surgery/BloodTranfusion/default.htm

Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hcai-iamss/tti-it/risks_e.html

References:

Conn's Current Therapy 2007 . WB Saunders Co; 2007.

Hladik et al. Transmission of human herpesvirus 8 by blood transfusion. N Engl J Med . 2006 Sep 28;355(13):1331-1338.

Merck Manual of Medical Information, Home Edition. . 2nd ed. Merck and Co; 2004.

Posthouwer D. The natural history of childhood-acquired hepatitis C infection in patients with inherited bleeding disorders. Transfusion . 2006;46(8):1360-1366.



Last reviewed November 2007 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.

Source: EBSCO
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