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Blood Transfusion and Alternatives

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Blood Products & Indications - What's in the Bag?

ProductContentsVol (mL)Indications (Key Thresholds)StorageNotes
PRBCsRBCs, residual plasma/WBCs/plts~300Anemia (Hb < 7 g/dL), Acute loss >20%2-6°C; 35-42dLeukoreduce, Irradiate
Platelets (PC)Platelets, plasma~50-70Plt < 10,000/µL, Dysfunctional plts + bleeding20-24°C (agitate); 5dRDP/SDP
FFPAll clotting factors, plasma proteins~250Coagulopathy (INR > 1.5), TTP, DIC-18°C; 1yrThaw 30-37°C
CryoprecipitateFibrinogen, FVIII, FXIII, vWF~15Fibrinogen < 100 mg/dL, FVIII/FXIII def, vWD-18°C; 1yrFactor concentrate
Whole BloodAll components~450Massive hemorrhage, Exchange Txn2-6°C; 21-35dRare; component therapy preferred

Compatibility & Crossmatching - Perfect Match Quest

  • ABO System (Landsteiner's Law): RBC Ag + plasma Ab.
    GrpAgAbDonates RBC toReceives RBC from
    AAAnti-BA, ABA, O
    BBAnti-AB, ABB, O
    ABA, BNoneABA,B,AB,O (All)
    OHAnti-A/BA,B,AB,O (All)O
  • Rh System: RhD Ag key. Rh(D)-neg: Anti-D (IgG) if sensitized (Rh+ exposure) → HDN risk.
  • Crossmatching: Pre-transfusion.
    • Major: Donor RBCs + Recipient serum (Recipient Ab vs Donor Ag).
    • Minor: Donor serum + Recipient RBCs.
  • 📌 O RhD neg: Universal RBC Donor; AB RhD pos: Universal RBC Acceptor. ABO/Rh Blood Group Compatibility

Bombay Blood Group (Oh): Lacks H antigen. Has anti-A, anti-B, anti-H. Can only receive Oh blood.

Transfusion Reactions - When Good Blood Goes Bad

  • Immediate Reactions (Minutes to hours)
    • Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (AHTR)
      • Onset: Minutes
      • Symptoms/Signs: Fever, chills, hemoglobinuria (red urine), hypotension, DIC, flank pain.
      • Pathophysiology: ABO incompatibility; intravascular hemolysis (IgM mediated).
      • Prevention: Meticulous pre-transfusion testing.
      • Management: Stop transfusion, IV fluids, diuretics, manage DIC.
    • Febrile Non-Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (FNHTR)
      • Onset: 30 min - 6 hrs
      • Symptoms/Signs: Fever (↑ 1°C), chills, rigors.
      • Pathophysiology: Cytokines from donor WBCs. 📌 Mnemonic: Febrile = Cytokines from WBCs.
      • Prevention: Leukoreduction.
      • Management: Antipyretics; exclude hemolysis.
    • Allergic/Anaphylactic Reaction
      • Onset: Minutes (anaphylaxis) to hours (mild allergic)
      • Symptoms/Signs: Urticaria, pruritus; (anaphylaxis: angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension).
      • Pathophysiology: IgE mediated (recipient IgE vs donor plasma proteins); IgA deficiency (anaphylaxis).
      • Prevention: Antihistamines; washed RBCs for IgA deficient.
      • Management: Antihistamines, steroids; epinephrine for anaphylaxis.
    • Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO)
      • Onset: Within 6 hrs
      • Symptoms/Signs: Dyspnea, orthopnea, hypertension, pulmonary edema.
      • Pathophysiology: Volume overload.
      • Prevention: Slow infusion, diuretics.
      • Management: Oxygen, diuretics, sit upright.
    • Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)
      • Onset: Within 6 hrs
      • Symptoms/Signs: Acute dyspnea, hypoxia, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, fever, hypotension.
      • Pathophysiology: Donor antibodies vs. recipient leukocytes.
      • Prevention: Screen donors (multiparous women).
      • Management: Supportive, oxygen, ventilation if needed.

Exam Favourite: TRALI: Donor antibodies vs. recipient leukocytes (immune); TACO: Simple volume overload, often in elderly or cardiac patients. Key differentiator: BNP levels (↑ in TACO, normal/low in TRALI).

  • Delayed Reactions (Days to weeks)
    • Delayed Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (DHTR)
      • Onset: 3-10 days
      • Symptoms/Signs: Jaundice, fever, unexpected ↓Hb.
      • Pathophysiology: Anamnestic response to non-ABO antigens (e.g., Kidd, Duffy); extravascular hemolysis (IgG).
      • Prevention: Antibody screening.
      • Management: Usually supportive.

Alternatives & Special Situations - Beyond the Donor

  • Pharmacological Alternatives:
    • Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs): E.g., Epoetin, Darbepoetin; stimulate RBC production.
    • Iron Therapy: Oral/IV for iron deficiency anemia.
  • Non-Pharmacological Alternatives:
    • Autologous Transfusion: Patient's pre-donated blood.
    • Intraoperative Cell Salvage: Collects & reinfuses shed surgical blood.
    • Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution: Pre-op blood removal, volume replacement, later reinfusion.
  • Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP):
    • For major hemorrhage (e.g., >10 units PRBCs/24h).
    • Components: PRBC:FFP:Platelets, typically 1:1:1 ratio.
    • Aims: Correct lethal triad (acidosis, hypothermia, coagulopathy).
    • Adjuncts: Calcium, Tranexamic Acid (TXA).

⭐ Tranexamic acid (TXA) inhibits fibrinolysis; used in trauma and MTPs to ↓ bleeding. Dose: 1g IV loading, then 1g over 8 hours.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Universal RBC donor: O RhD negative; Universal RBC recipient: AB RhD positive.
  • Universal plasma donor: AB group; Universal plasma recipient: O group.
  • Massive transfusion: >10 units PRBCs in 24h or >4 units in 1h; risks hypothermia, coagulopathy, hypocalcemia.
  • FNHTR: Most common reaction; due to cytokines; prevent with leukoreduction.
  • TRALI: Leading mortality cause; donor antibodies vs recipient leukocytes.
  • Blood storage lesion: ↓ 2,3-DPG, ↓ pH, ↑ K+; RBCs viable 35-42 days.
  • Alternatives: Erythropoietin, iron, autologous transfusion, cell salvage.

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