Please note this information is for educational purposes only and procedures should not conducted based on this information. OSCEstop and authors take no responsibility for errors or for the use of any content.
Introduction
Wash hands; Introduce self; ask Patientโs name, DOB and check wristband; Explain:
Reason for transfusion
Benefits
Risks
Viral infections (HIV: 1 in 6.5 million; hepatitis B: 1 in 1.3 million; hepatitis C: 1 in 28 million; variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: 4 isolated cases)
Bacterial infection (contamination)
Transfusion reactions
Will never be able to donate blood again
Gain consent
Indications for…
Red cell concentrates
Haemoglobin <70 g/L (or <80g/L if elderly/cardiovascular/respiratory disease)
Significant blood loss (>1.5L or >30% blood volume)
Symptomatic anaemia (myocardial ischemia, orthostatic hypotension or tachycardia)
Acute sickle cell crisis (stroke prevention)
Platelet concentrates
Platelets <10×109/L in bone marrow failure (or <20 x109/L if septic)
Platelets <50×109/L if undergoing surgery or actively bleeding (<100×109/L if multiple trauma/spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage/ neurosurgery/posterior ophthalmic surgery)
With a colleague, check the details on the blood unit against the following:
Transfusion slip
Patient
Patientโs wristband
Route the giving set line through a blood-warmer if patient has undergone surgery, has cold agglutinins, requires rapid large volume transfusion, or exchange transfusion
Request nursing observations at 0, 15, 30 minutes and then hourly, and at the end of the transfusion. Ask to be informed of any problems.