2. Outline
• Blood basics
• Decision to transfuse
• Ordering blood/component
• Delivering to clinical area
• Pre administration
• Monitoring patient
• Complications of Blood Transfusion
3. Note!
This presentation aims at:
Ensuring proper:
• Collection
• Administration
• Monitoring of blood for transfusion
Promoting safe & effective blood transfusion practice
Highlighting key aspects of safe transfusion practices
• for qualified transfusionists
4. Blood Basics
• Whole blood consists of:
• RBC, WBC, platelets & plasma
• On average, an adult has about
5 liters of blood circulating
throughout their system
5. Blood Transfusion
• Def: is the transfusion of the whole blood or its component e.g.
blood cells or plasma from one person to another
Involves 2 procedures
Collection from donor
Administration to recipient
Blood/Component can be:
• Whole blood,
• Packed cell volume,
• Fresh frozen plasma,
• Platelets,
• Cryoprecipitate
6. Decision to Transfuse
• Patient’s record/ notes must contain order to transfuse
• Prescribed by the Doctor
• Prescription must specify
• blood component
• No. of units
• Any special requirements/instructions
• Explain & discuss reasons for transfusion with patient
• Obtain informed consent from client
• Where pre-transfusion is not possible
• Clinician can consent based on condition, risks &benefits
7. Ordering blood/component
• Clinician correctly identifies patient
• Take blood sample for grouping & crossmatch
• Label blood tube correctly
• Complete a Lab request form
• Record in the Lab samples register
• Ensure a patent IV catheter
• Send sample to lab & communicate
8. Delivering to clinical area
• Executed by qualified practitioner
• Take patient’s notes & clean receiver to the Lab
• Check & match patient identifiers
• on pack & notes/prescription
• Check for leaks, unusual discoloration, cloudiness/clots
• Record in the Transfusion register in Lab
• Deliver in a clean receiver
• Maintain storage conditions until transfusion (+2 to +60C)
9. Pre-Administration
• Practitioner who collected the blood & another qualified
practitioner correctly identifies the patient
• At bedside
• Check instruction & inform the patient
• Check & record
• Patient identifiers
• Blood groups
• Donation & expiry date on pack
• Pack No.
• Take & record baseline vital obs.
10. STOP!
• If any of the above criteria are not met, DO NOT start the
transfusion
• Notify the hospital Lab immediately
11. • Both practitioners sign on chart
• May prime using 0.9% Sodium Chloride ONLY
• DO NOT use if container is not intact or if the appearance is not
normal
• return to Lab
• Note & record time put up
• Start transfusion within 30 minutes of removal from the Lab
fridge
• Complete transfusion within 4 hours
12. Monitoring Patient
• Monitor Vital signs
• Quarter hourly (1st hour)
• Half hourly thereafter
• Monitor infusion rate
• Critically observe patient for adverse reactions
• Diagnose & swiftly respond to adverse reactions
• Record, report adverse reactions to the doctor
• assess need for further transfusion
13. Post Transfusion
• Record time of completion of transfusion
• Continue monitoring 6 hours post transfusion
• Keep used pack 24 hour post transfusion
• Report & document adverse reactions/incident
• Discard empty pack & giving set in a Biohazard container
At every stage of the transfusion process
Qualified RN, Laboratory scientists, anaesthetist, midwife, doctor
Purposes for Blood Transfusion
Restore blood volume lost due to hemorrhage
Raise Hemoglobin levels in severe anemia.
To treat deficiencies of plasma protein, clotting factors, hemophilic globulin
Provide antibodies
To combat infection e.g. in leucopenia
This includes discussion of valid alternatives to transfusion and the option to refuse.
Clinician assess
Lab samples register in ward/ department
Communicate with the scientist on duty
IV Catheter 20-22G for adults based on vein size & patient preference
-f0r rapid admin 14-18G
Identifiers: patient details which include forename, surname, age, sex, hospital number, ward/department name and medical diagnosis.
Check, Check, Check!
Record on a conventional Transfusion Chart
Blood warmer
- recommended for massive bleeds
-not exceed 420C
-Adhere to BW manufacturer guidelines
•NB If at any time you are interrupted or distracted, you must recommence the patient identification checks from the beginning.
Because changes in the composition may occur due to red cell metabolism.
Immediately stop transfusion if serious signs and symptoms develop
Infusion rates(slower rates may be necessary for elderly, cardiovascular compromise or at risk for fluid overload)
Red cells are started at 2 mL/minute (120 mL/hr) for first 15 minutes
Blood transfusion reaction is a systemic response by the body to blood incompatible with that of the recipient. E.g. ABO incompatibility, reaction to WBC, platelets or plasma protein; potassium or citrate presevative in the blood
In case of reactions, investigations should follow up
Stop transfusion immediately
Notify Dr
Connect 0.9% NS IV line
Observe & monitor Vital Signs
Organize for emergency drugs e.g. vasopressors, antihistamine, steroids & fluids
Prepare for CPR
Obtain a urine specimen & send to lab
Document the reactions & measures carried out
Return blood pack & giving set to lab
Ensure patient identifiers and blood pack match and verify blood type
Circulatory Overload- esp. after giving whole blood to pt who require RBCs, pt with heart failure
Haemosiderosis: Iron Overload