ABSTRACT
Transfusion of blood products is a common practice in acute hospital trusts. Broadly speaking, keep a look out for fever, urticaria, and shortness of breath, or cardiovascular system instability that occurs specifically after the onset of transfusion. Complications of transfusion may occur as a result of allergy, systemic inflammatory response syndrome response, or may manifest as a respiratory complication. Patients in both groups will present with the typical features of acute respiratory compromise. Transfusion-related acute lung injury has a typical onset time of 6 hours after commencement of the transfusion; transfusion-associated cardiovascular overload tends to develop more rapidly. However, in the initial stages it may be difficult to distinguish between the two. Initial management is centred on the principles of any acute respiratory emergency: Sit upright and High-flow oxygen as indicated, and arterial blood gas, bloods, chest x-ray. In addition, patients suffering from Transfusion-associated cardiovascular overload should receive IV loop diuretics.
