BLOOD
TRANSFUSION
WE SAVE LIFES
Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusion is the medical procedure where blood or
blood components are transferred from a donor or a
recipient.
Its often done to replace blood lost during surgery or injury,
treat certain medical conditions, or address blood disorder.
Blood Grouping And Rhesus
Factor
Blood grouping involves classifying blood into
different types based on the presence or absence
of specific antigens on the surface of red blood
cells.
The two main systems for blood grouping are the ABO
system (categorizing blood as A, B, AB, or O ) and the Rh
system ( determining the presence or absence of the Rh
factor, making blood Rh-positive or Rh-negative).
Rhesus Factor and blood
compatibility
The rhesus factor is the protein substance presence on the surface of red
blood cells. It is the one of the most important blood group system after the
ABO blood group system. The presence of Rh factor on the surface of the
red blood cells will determine whether a person is Rh-positive or Rh-negative
The Rh factor is inherited from the parents, similar to the ABO blood group
system
The Rh factor is significant in medical contexts such as
blood transfusions and pregnancy. In blood transfusions,
its crucial to match the Rh factor of the donors blood with
the recipients blood to prevent adverse reaction.
Blood compatibility
Blood compatibility refers to the compatibility between
the blood of a donor and a recipient, particularly
concerning the ABO blood group system and the Rh
factor. Compatibility is essential to prevent adverse
reactions during blood transfusions
Types Of Blood Transfusion
Autologous transfusion: Is where blood is taken from a
person and is been transfer to the same person
Heterogous transfusion: Is where blood is donated
from other person to be transfused to other person which
is the recipient. Sometimes is voluntary donated by the
donor to be donated to other person.
Indication For Blood
Transfusion
Operative state
Blood abnormalities in cases like leukemia
Severe burn
Severe hemorrhage
Preparation For Blood
Transfusion
Prescription and justification: A healthcare provider must
prescribe the blood transfusion based on a thorough assessment of
the patients condition and medical history
Informed consent: Obtain informed consent from the patient or
their legal representative. Clearly explain the purpose of the
transfusion, potential risks, and benefits. Answer any question the
patient may have.
Patient Identification: Verify the patients identity using at least two
patient identifiers (e.g, name and date of birth) to ensure that the
corrcect blood product is administered to the correct individual.
Blood typing and crossmatching: Perform blood typing and
crossmatching to determine the ABO and Rh compatibility between the
donor and recipient. Make sure that the selected blood component is
compatible with the patients blood type.
Blood product selection: Choose the appropriate blood product
based on the patients clinical condition. Common blood products
includes packed red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and
cryoprecipitate
Verification of blood product: check the blood product against the
transfusion order to verify that it matches the patients blood type and
other specific requirement.
Equipment check: ensure that the necessary
equipment, such as blood administration sets, IV
catheters, and infusion pumps, is available and in good
working condition.
IV access: establish secure intravenous (IV) access using
a large bore catheter to facilitate the smooth
administration of blood products.
Pre- transfusion vital signs: record baseline vital signs,
including temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory
rate, before initiating the transfusion.
Pretransfusion medications: administer any pretransfusion
medications, such as antipyretics or antihistamines, as
prescribed to reduce the risk of transfusion reactions.
Pre-Transfusion saline flush: some protocols recommend flushing
the IV line with normal saline before starting the blood transfusion
to ensure proper flow and minimize the risk of reaction.
Observation area: Prepare an appropriate observation area where
the patient can be closely monitored during the transfusion for any
sign of adverse reaction
Documentation: document the details of the
transfusion, including the start time, blood product
details, and any observations made during the process
Post-transfusion monitoring: after the transfusion is
complete, continue monitoring the patient for a short
period to detect delayed reactions.
Management Of Blood
Transfusion
• The management of blood transfusion involve series of
steps to ensure the safe and effective administration of
blood products to the recipient. Here is an outline of key
aspects of managing blood transfusion;
Pre-transfusion assessment: Verify the patient identity using at
least two patient identifiers (e.g name and date of birth). And also
assess the patients vital signs, including temperature, pulse,
respiration and BP as baseline measurement.
Informed consent: obtain informed consent from the patient or
their authorized representative. Explain the purpose of the
transfusion, potential risks, and benefit.
Blood product selection: select the appropriate blood product based on
the patients blood type, compatibility testing, and clinical indication for the
transfusion (e.g… packed red blood cells, platelets and plasma).
Preparation of blood product: Retrieve the specified blood product
from the blood bank or storage facility. And also verify the blood product
details against the transfusion order and patient information.
Equipment setup: setup the necessary equipment for blood transfusion,
including a blood administration set, IV catheter, and infusion pump.
Patient preparation: Ensure the patient has adequate venous access for
the transfusion. And also position the patient comfortably for the transfusion.
Start Transfusion: begin the transfusion at slow rate ( e.g,.. 2-4 ml/minute
for the first 15 minutes) and closely monitor the patient for any immediate
adverse reaction
Monitoring: continuously monitor the patients vital signs, including
temperature, pulse, BP and respiratory rate throughout the transfusion.
Also observe the patient for sign of transfusion reactions, such as fever,
chill, rash, dyspnea.
Documentation: document the start time of the transfusion, vital sign
and any observations or interventions. Document any post-transfusion
observations or changes in the patients conditions.
Disposal: dispose of unused blood products and related materials according
to the established protocols and safety guidelines.
Communication: communicate any issues, adverse reactions, or concerns
related to the transfusion promptly to the healthcare team and document
appropriately.
Patient education: provide post-transfusion instructions to the patient,
including sign of potential complications and when to seek medical attention.