Treatment of Transfusion Complications

Overview

Treatment of the adverse events of transfusion is tailored to specific complications and to individual patients. For severe reactions, beginning treatment immediately is critical to preventing the most serious sequelae, including death.

Treatment is based on signs and symptoms and proceeds logically according to institutional policies. The first steps are:

• recognize a possible transfusion reaction
• stop the transfusion
• take the patient’s vital signs
• re-check the patient and blood unit identification
• contact the attending physician
• treat the symptoms as directed by the physician
• report the transfusion reaction to the hospital blood bank

Subsequent treatment depends on signs and symptoms and the most likely cause(s) of the reaction.

Patients with minimal symptoms may not require treatment other than stopping the transfusion, but should be monitored closely. All treatment (or non-treatment) decisions must be made by the attending physician.

Treatment should be based on the symptoms and medical history of the individual patient.