Incidence of Adverse Transfusion Reaction and Practices for its Prevention

Abstract

Transfusion reactions are the untoward event towards blood products. Although majority of transfusion reactions are uneventful sometimes it may have life threatening events. This study was conducted to estimate the incidence and determine the nature of blood transfusion reactions in our hospital. It also aims to find practices which could prevention such reactions. All the Adverse transfusion reactions were investigated in detail in the blood bank for the clerical errors, immunohematology workup and classified according to their nature. A total of 38308 units of components were issued to various departments in the hospital. Total 61 transfusion reactions were reported to the blood bank following transfusion of components only (0.16%). The most common type of transfusion reaction among all the ATRs was febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction (44%), followed by allergic (39%). Fever and chills, rigors were the most common symptom. Other reactions were dyspnoea, rashes and tachycardia. Avoiding unnecessary transfusion, red cell modification like leukofitration for FNHTR, red cell washing for allergic reactions and anaphylactoid reactions and implementing Patient Blood Management are tools to decrease transfusion reactions.