What are the risks associated with blood transfusion?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother is 50 years old. She has low hemoglobin and iron levels, and the doctor has advised a blood transfusion. Please answer a few of my questions:

Could you provide an overview of what a blood transfusion involves and when it is typically performed?
What are the key components of blood that are transfused, and what roles do they play in the body?
How is donor blood matched to the recipient's blood type to prevent adverse reactions?
What are the potential risks and complications associated with blood transfusions?
Lastly, how can adverse reactions, such as allergic or hemolytic reactions, be identified and managed?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

A transfusion should only be performed if it is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, if the Hb (hemoglobin) level is adequate, transfusions should be avoided. Please share the CBC (complete blood count) report and iron profile report. In case of low Hb, red blood cells can be transfused. If platelet levels are low, platelet transfusions can be considered.

If the patient has cardiac disease, the transfusion should be performed slowly. Blood pressure (BP) should be checked before and after transfusions. The donor's blood group is matched with the recipient’s to ensure compatibility. This depends on the type of blood component required for the transfusion.

To prevent reactions, the donor’s red blood cells and the recipient’s plasma are mixed and tested for compatibility, a process called cross-matching. Cross-match results must be negative. If positive, the blood cannot be transfused.

Donor blood should be thoroughly tested for viruses and bacteria that can be transmitted through blood transfusions. Multiple transfusion reactions, ranging from mild to severe, can occur in patients. This is why transfusions must be conducted in a proper medical setup. Reactions can be minimized by strictly following transfusion protocols. The patient should be monitored closely during the process.

Allergic reactions can be treated with antihistamines. If any reaction occurs, the transfusion should be stopped immediately. Additionally, hemolytic reactions must be addressed urgently by stopping the transfusion, taking the patient’s vital signs, sending samples for analysis, identifying the issue, and managing it accordingly.

I hope this answers your query.

Take care.