Blood Transfusion

It is a procedure in which a patient receives a blood product through an intravenous line.

It is the introduction of blood components into the venous circulation.

Process of transferring blood-based products from one person into the circulatory system of another.

BLOOD TRANSFUSION

To replace blood lost during surgery or a serious injury.

To restore oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

To provide plasma factors to prevent or treat bleeding.

Done if patient’s body is not capable of making blood properly because of an illness.

PURPOSES

Major injuries after an accident or disaster.

Surgery on an organ such as liver and the heart.

Severe AnemiaBleeding such as Haemophilia and

Thrombocytopenia.

Typical Situations in which blood products are given

BLOOD TYPES

Each person has one of the following blood types: A, B, AB, or O.

O - can be given to anyone but can only receive O.

AB – can receive any type but can only be given to AB.

Every person’s blood is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative.

Type O blood is called the universal donor.

People with type AB blood are called universal recipients.

People with Rh-positive blood can get Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood. But people with Rh-negative blood should get only Rh-negative blood.

Before a blood transfusion, a technician tests the patient’s blood to find out what blood type they have (A, B, AB, or O and Rh-positive or Rh-negative).

Some patients may have allergic reaction even when the blood given does work their own blood type.

Preparation

A needle is used to insert an intravenous (IV) line into a blood vessel. Through this line, the blood is transfused. The procedure usually takes one to four hours.

During the BT, carefully watch the patient, especially for the first 15 minutes. This is when bad reactions are most likely to occur.

After a BT, vital signs are checked (temp., BP, RR, and HR).

Follow-up blood tests may be necessary to show how the body is reacting to the transfusion.

Administering Blood

TRANSFUSION REACTIONS

Hemolytic Reaction – incompatibility between client’s bloods and donor’s blood.

Clinical signs:Chills, fever, headache, backache, dyspnea,

cyanosis, chest pain, tachycardia, hypotension.Febrile Reaction – sensitivity of the client’s blood

to white blood cells, platelets, or plasma proteins.Clinical signs:Fever, chills, warm, and flushed skin, headache,

anxiety, muscle pain.Allergic Reaction (mild)Clinical signs:Flushing, itching, urticaria, bronchial wheezing.

Allergic Reaction (Severe)Clinical Signs:Dyspnea, chest pain, circulatory collapse, cardiac

arrest.Circulatory Overload – blood administered faster

than the circulation can accommodate.Clinical signs:Cough, dyspnea, crackles (rales), distended neck veins,

tachycardia, hypertension.Sepsis – contaminated blood administered.Clinical Signs:High fever, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension.

TRANSFUSION REACTIONS

Components of the blood which are collected from a donor for us in blood transfusion.

Blood Products