ABSTRACT
Blood p roducts are drugs and, as w ith any drugs, m ay be associated w ith ad verse events. Adverse events w hich occur in association w ith the transfusion o f b lood products are com m only called transfusion reactions. Transfusion reactions are m ost practically divided on the basis o f tim e o f occurrence in relation to the b lood transfusion. Acute com plications usually occur during the transfusion event, b u t can occur up to several hours (4 hours) after com pletion o f the transfusion. Delayed com plications start som ew here betw een 24 hours and 2 weeks after the transfusion episode. Late com plications m ay occur up to 30 years after the tran s fusion o r series o f transfusion episodes. This chapter will concern itself w ith acute reactions to b lood transfusion .
