Anaesthesia Fundamentals | Physiology | Transfusion Physiology 2

Transfusion Physiology 2
Session Overview
Description
This session describes the immediate, early and late complications of transfusion, as well as the complications of massive blood transfusion.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Classify the complications associated with blood transfusion based on the onset of symptoms and signs
• Describe the immunological basis of a haemolytic transfusion reaction
• Define massive blood transfusion and identify the specific complications associated with it

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should complete:

• Transfusion Physiology I (001-0623)

The appropriate transfusion of blood products can be life-saving. However, the decision to transfuse should only be made after a careful risk-benefit analysis. Appreciation of the risks involved is essential to allow this process to be informed.

Transfusion reactions have a spectrum of clinical severity and causes. These reactions can be classified into immediate, early and late complications.

There are also particular complications associated with massive blood transfusion, i.e. the transfusion of large volumes of blood products over a short period of time.