Blood Transfusion

Adverse Transfusion Reactions 2

While the risk of transfusion transmitted infections is now extremely low (around 1 in a million), receiving a blood component can lead to an acute transfusion reaction (~1% red cells, 5% FFP and platelets). This is mainly due to secondary antigenic differences in individual plasma proteins, which are extremely difficult to match.

National reporting of serious adverse transfusion reactions should be done via Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT).

To read more about SHOT, visit: https://www.shotuk.org

While mild transfusion reactions may be managed by stopping the transfusion and administering anti-pyrexial or antihistamines, it is important to ask for help if you need it!

The main severe blood transfusion reactions to be aware of are:

Severe allergic reactions
TACO (Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload) - presenting with respiratory distress, tachycardia, increased BP, pulmonary oedema.
More rarely, TRALI (Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury) presents with acute dyspnoea and hypoxia with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates during or within 6 hours of transfusion.