The Major Causes And Key Symptoms Of Blood Transfusion Reaction

by Shruti Sharma Content Curator

Medical professionals and patients should be aware of the dangers of incorrect blood transfusion protocols. There is a significant risk to the patient, if the hospital has used an incompatible blood type during the transfusion process. There could be a severe reaction within the red blood cells present in the patient’s body, resulting in life-threatening situations.

Critical reasons for blood transfusion reactions

The main reason behind blood transfusion reactions are due to a mismatch or an incorrect pairing of the donor blood within the patient’s body. The recipient’s blood may start to react against the received blood type, leading to an allergic reaction. The patient’s antibodies (anti-A or anti-B) may start to resist the incoming blood, leading to an acute haemolytic response.

Bacterial contamination and infections can also lead to blood transfusion reactions in the body, which is why it is important to use high-quality medical equipment. Hospitals need to opt for the leading platforms, such as Smart Medical Buyer, when acquiring key supplies such as syringes, medical plaster tape, containment units, etc.

There can also be a chance of heavy volumes of donor blood entering the patient rapidly. This can lead to a medical condition called transfusion-associated volume overload, which can be life threatening to the patient. The circulatory system of the patient can be compromised, leading to a severe response from the patient.

Key symptoms that medical professionals need to analyse

The most common symptoms emerging early on are fevers, chills and hives that may last longer than expected. There may also be an immunological reaction, in which case the patient’s condition keeps getting worse. An Ambu bag (Artificial Manual Breathing Unit bag) may also be needed if the patient is unable to breathe due to severe hives or respiratory malfunction.

Continued low blood pressure may be measured within the patient, followed by red urine phenomena (haemoglobinuria). Doctors need to diagnose individual symptoms to determine the root cause but can perform preliminary tests to find incompatibility based on the patient’s condition.

Treatment protocol for blood transfusion reactions

The treatment protocol for blood transfusion in medical emergencies is to completely stop the transfusion process and to replace the donor blood with saline. That’s why doctors need to constantly monitor the condition of the patient, to ensure that there is no adverse reaction.

Alloantibodies can be studied in the blood of the patient and minor reactions can be controlled with antihistamines. Parenteral antihistamines and corticosteroids can also be administered to control an adverse reaction. Advances in donor screening and testing have enabled medical professionals to reduce the possibility of a transfusion reaction from arising, via right matching and quality storage.