Blood transfusion is the injection of a specific volume of blood taken from a healthy do not or from the patient’s bloodstream in advance. The purpose is to replace lost blood during a serious injury or surgery.

Transfusions are life-saving as they add donated blood to the volume in the body after low blood levels or severe blood loss. It is, however, crucial that there is accuracy in typing and matching the blood type of the recipient and donor. These reactions are rate if every step adheres to safety standard and procedure, but if it happens, the effects can harm some body organs. Kidneys and lungs are prone to blood transfusion reactions. Sometimes transfusion reactions can become life-threatening hence there is a need for quick treatment.

Causes of Transfusion Reaction

Antibodies attack on donor blood

Antibodies in a recipient’s blood can attack the 'new' volume from the donor if they are incompatible. The occurrence is known as a hemolytic reaction. It shows that the recipient immune system is attacking the red blood cells of a donor.

Allergic reaction

Some people are allergic to blood transfusion. Itching and hives are some of the symptoms after transfusion are a pointer to an allergy. This type of reaction is something that a doctor can treat with antihistamines (allergy drugs).

Bacteria

Blood bank staff thoroughly screen blood before storage and will identify any bacteria that it might contain. Nonetheless, bacteria can be present donated blood on rare instances. A recipient who receives contaminated blood can get an infection, shock and even death.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury

This type of reaction abbreviated as (TRALI) might occur if the donor's plasma contains antibodies which cause damage to immune cells in lungs. It causes lung damage by causing fluid buildup in the lungs severely limiting their ability to supply oxygen to other body organs. This is a reaction that mostly occurs within 6 hours of receiving blood.

Transfusion-Associated Circulatory overloads (TACO)

A transfusion reaction occurs when a person gets too much blood. Having excess blood overloads the heart making it work harder when pumping the blood through the body organs. It results in a buildup of fluid in the lungs.

Iron overload

A blood transfusion might cause a reaction if the donor blood has too much iron than what body of the recipient can manage. It can cause damage to the liver and heart but over many transfusions.

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Potential symptoms of transfusion reaction

Blood transfusion reactions may occur during the process or soon after it is complete. Most symptoms occur within the first few minutes and classified as an acute reaction. Those that occur after an hour or days are known as a delayed reaction.

A further classification considers the state of red blood cells after a transfusion reaction. If the cells are intact, the broad classification for the reaction is non-hemolytic. A hemolytic reaction is a term given to a transfusion reaction that destroys the cells.

A doctor or a nurse stay with a patient who is receiving blood to keep observing for vital signs and symptoms that are likely to occur if there is a reaction. These are the typical reaction symptoms.

• Skin flushing
• Pain in the flank (side of the body between the ribs and hip bone )
• Back pain
• Itching
• Chills
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Dark urine

It is essential for a patient to pay close attention to the body after a blood transfusion since some reactions take longer before exhibiting any signs. They can last for days. It is paramount to inform the patient about the importance of reporting any signs or symptoms soon after noticing them for early diagnosis and treatment

Prevention of Transfusion Reactions

Everyone: It is vital for all people to know their blood type because the red blood cells and protein markers correspond to its composition.

Lab personnel: Laboratory staff should be careful in typing and cross-matching. A mistake means the patients get a wrong type of blood which the immune system detects as a foreign protein and makes an attempt at destroying the new red blood cells.

Blood bank staff: Blood banks also have an essential role in preventing transfusion reactions by implementing a thorough testing process that ensures the safety of the blood and correct typing.

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