1. Blood Transfusions
By Christina Baier, Crystal Davidson, Dayna Legge,
Christine Leblond, Jessica Luckett, and McKenzie Quevillion
2. Overview
What is a blood transfusion?
Purpose
Indications
Blood products
Nursing implications
Administering a blood
transfusion (skill)
3. What is a Blood Transfusion?
Administration of blood or one of its
components through an intravenous line (IV)
Reaches patient’s blood vessels and enters the
circulatory system
4. Purpose of a Blood Transfusion
Restore blood volume
Replace clotting factors
Improve oxygen carrying capacity
Restore blood elements that are depleted
Prevent complications
6. Lab Tests
Lab Test Normal Results Why is this ordered?
Type and crossmatch Based on ABO system
Positive = incompatibility
Negative = probable
compatibility
To determine the primary blood group,
screen for antibodies and determine
donor-recipient compatibility.
Hbg (hemoglobin) Male 140-175 g/L
Female 123-153 g/L
Critical Value:
Male <130 g/L
Female <110 g/L
Hbg carries oxygen in the blood. It can
decrease due to blood loss.
Hct
(hematocrit)
Male 41.5%-50.4%
Female 25.9%-44.6%
Critical Value:
<18% or >54%
Hct measures the proportion of blood
volume occupied by RBCs. It decreases
with blood loss and anemia.
Platelet count 150,000-400000 cells/uL
Critical Value:
<50,000 cells/uL
Platelets initiate the coagulation
process. A decreased amount increases
the risk for hemorrhage.
7. Whole Blood
Composition:
- Red Blood Cells
- White Blood Cells
- Plasma
- Platelets
- Hematocrit
- Clotting Factors
Purpose:
- Volume replacement
- Increase oxygen-carrying capacity
Indications:
- Significant blood loss (>25% blood lost, i.e. hemorrhage)
- Newborn babies with hemolytic disease
8. Packed Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
Composition:
- RBCs with little plasma (hematocrit about 75%)
- Some platelets and WBCs remain
Purpose:
- Increase RBC mass and oxygen-carrying capacity
- Assists the body to rid carbon dioxide and other waste products
Indications:
- Symptomatic and chronic anemia
- Blood loss due to injury or surgery
10. White Blood Cells (WBCs)
Composition:
- WBCs or leukocytes suspended in 20% of the plasma
Purpose:
- Increase number of WBC’s
- Replaces WBC’s that are functioning abnormally
Indications:
- Sepsis (not responsive to antibiotics)
- Persistent fever
- Granulocytopenia
12. Albumin
Composition:
- Albumin
Purpose:
- Volume expansion leading to increased blood volume
Indications:
- Hypoproteinemia
- Burns
- Shock
- Trauma
- Surgery
- Infections
13. Nursing Implications
Before transfusion:
Check physician’s orders
Review hospital policy
Ensure informed and written consent is provided
Check laboratory values
Understand the indications and rationale
Verification procedure occurs with
two nurses
14. Nursing Implications Con’t
Before transfusion (con’t):
Compatibility of blood type and Rh factor
Inspect the blood product for discolouration, clots, leaking, or
presence of bubbles
Check the unit number on the unit of blood and on the form
Check the expiration date and time on unit of blood
Ask client to state first and last name
Check patient’s identification number on wristband and record
15. Nursing Implications Con’t
During the transfusion:
Monitor vital signs closely during the blood
transfusion
Inspect condition of IV site
Observe for signs and symptoms of a
reaction
16. Nursing Implications Con’t
After the transfusion:
Dispose of materials/equipment
Observe patient for clinical
improvements
Assess the laboratory values for
effectiveness of transfusion
18. Mechanism Onset Signs and Symptoms
ABO, Rh
incompatibility
5-15 minutes
following
initiation of
blood
transfusion
Increased temperature, increased
heart rate, heat and pain surrounding
vein, chills, headache, nausea, chest
or back pain, chest tightness, dyspnea,
bronchospasm, hypotension, anxiety,
vascular collapse, hemoglobinemia,
hemoglobinuria, disseminated
intravascular coagulation
Acute haemolytic reaction
19. Delayed haemolytic reaction
Mechanism Onset Signs and Symptoms
Immune
response
against non-
ABO donor
antigens
2-14 days
Fever, decrease in Hgb/Hct, increased
bilirubin levels, jaundice
20. Febrile, nonhaemolytic reaction
Mechanism Onset Signs and Symptoms
Sensitivity to
leukocytes or
platelets in
donor’s blood
30 minutes
after initiation
to 6 hours
after
completion of
transfusion
Fever, flushing, chills, headache,
muscle pain
21. Allergic reaction
Mechanism Onset Signs and Symptoms
Allergy to a
plasma
protein or
antigen in
donor’s blood
5-15 minutes
following
initiation of
blood
transfusion, up
to 1 hour after
Local erythema, gives, urticaria,
pruritus, coughing, nausea, vomiting,
respiratory distress, wheezing,
hypotension, loss of consciousness,
cardiac arrest
22. Graft-versus-host disease
Mechanism Onset Signs and Symptoms
Attack of
transfused
lymphocytes
on host
lymphocytes
Days to weeks
Skin rash, fever, jaundice, liver
dysfunction, bone marrow
suppression
23. Circulatory overload
Mechanism Onset Signs and Symptoms
Transfused at
an excessive
volume or rate
Any time
during or
within 1-2
hours after
transfusion
Dyspnea, cough, crackles, tachypnea,
headache, hypertension, tachycardia,
increased central venous pressure,
distended neck veins
24. Sepsis
Mechanism Onset Signs and Symptoms
Bacterial
contamination
During
transfusion to
2 hours after
transfusion
Fever, chills, abdominal cramping,
vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension
25. Lab Tests
Lab Test Normal Results Why is this ordered?
Antiglobulin (DAT) Negative Direct use is for post transfusion work-up to detect RBC
incompatibility. Positive result = hemolytic transfusion
reaction.
Bilirubin Indirect: 0.1-1.0 mg/dL An elevated indirect value may indicate ABO incompatibility.
Urinary Hemosiderin Negative Used to measure hemoglobin in urine resulting from
intravascular hemolysis. Positive reaction = blood transfusion
reaction.
CBC (Complete Blood Count) WBC 4.8-10.8 x10 9/L
RBC 4.2-5.4x10 12/L
HGB 120-160G/L
HCT 0.370-0.470
MCV 78-98 FL
MCH 25-24 PG
MCHC 320-360 G/L
RDW 0.110-0.150
Platelets 130-400 x10
MPV 7.0-11.0 FL
Lymphocyte 0.15-0.41 x10
Neutrophil 0.6-0.7 x10
Monocyte 0.06-0.41 x10
Esoinophil 0-0.04 x10
Basophil 0-0.2 x10
Luc 0-0.4 x10 9/L
To assess cellular characteristics of blood cells in response to
transfusion i.e. ABO compatibility through WBC.
26. Nursing Implications in a Reaction
Stop transfusion
Remove tubing that contains blood product
Infuse with 0.9% normal saline
Monitor vital signs
Notify physician
Notify blood bank and return blood component
Administer medication depending on type of reaction
Epinephrine, antihistamines, antibiotics, antipyretics,
analgesics, diuretics, corticosteroids
29. References
Bare, B., Smeltzer, S. C., Williams, B., Paul, P., & Day, R. A. (2004). Medical-surgical nursing (10th Ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Be Transfusion Smart. (2010). Screening and diagnosis. Retrieved from
http://www.betransfusionsmart.com/patient/screening_diagnosis.jsp?site=PU019478&source=01030&irm
asrc=EXJWB0221&usertrack.filter_applied=true&NovaId=4029461999768351678
Blood Book. (2005). Common blood products. Retrieved from
http://www.bloodbook.com/products.html#Whole%20Blood
Brundage, S., Curet, M., Dicker, R., Greco, R., Gregg, D., Morton, J., Nguyen, T., Norton, J., Shelton, A., Spain, D.,
Tavana, L., & Welton, M. (2004). Blood transfusion protocol at Stanford surgery ICU. Retrieved from
www.scalpel.stanford.edu/ICU/.../Transfusion%20Medicine%20TICU.ppt
Cincinnati Children’s Association. d(2010). Hematology and blood tests and procedures. Retrieved from
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/info/blood/procedure/components.htm
Day, R. A., Paul, P., Williams, B., Smeltzer, S. C., & Bare, B. (2007). Brunner and Suddarth’s textbook of medical-
surgical nursing (1st Canadian Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Malarkey, L., & McMorrow, M. (2005). Nursing guide to laboratory and diagnostic tests. St. Louis, MI: Elsevier
Saunders.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (n.d). Types of blood transfusions. Retrieved from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bt/bt_types.html
North Bay General Hospital. (2006). Nursing practice manual: Transfusion, blood and blood products (Policy No.
NP 1-90).
Perry, A.G., & Potter, P. A. (2006). Clinical nursing skills & techniques (6th Ed.). St. Louis, MI: Mosby, Inc.
Watson, D., & Hearnshaw, K. (2010). Understanding blood groups and transfusion in nursing practice. Nursing
Standard, 24 (30), 41-48.
Editor's Notes
How many liters of blood are in your body?
- There are 5L of blood in your body or 70ml/Kg = 7% of body weight
Replace blood losses due to serious injury or surgeries, inadequate components, view lab values
- helps to stop bleeding - including internal bleeding