Blood Transfusion

blood transfusion

nurse transfuses pt with new RBC via venous access and most are donted, you need one because low on RBC

• RBC carry oxygen throughout the body and remove CO2, which goes to the lungs

anemia

body is not producing enough RBC or body is destroying them (renal failure, cancers, liver failure)

hemolytic reaction

immune system is killing donor RBCs, antibodies in the recipient's blood match the antigens in donor blood cells (mistyped)

allergic reaction

the recipient's immune system reacts to proteins found in donor, can progress to anaphylaxis

febrile (non-hemolytic)

recipients WBCs are reacting with donor WBCs, causes body to build antibodies (inc in temp)

GvHD (graft vs host disease)

donor T lymphocytes cause immune response in recipient by engrafting in the marrow of the recipient's body in this case

septicemia

blood is contaminated

supplies needed for blood transfusion

• > 18 guage needle

• Y tubing withi in line filter

• 0.9% NS

• red biohazard bag

blood transfusion steps

• patient is typed and crossmatched

• ABO types, compatibility, and Rh factors

  • Rh+ can receive both positive and negative factor blood

  • Rh- can only receive negative factor blood

  • Type O universal donor

  • Type AB universal recipient

• informed consent is obtained

• any previous reaction

• premedicated before transfusion (Benadryl, Tylenol)

• obtain baseline vitals

• start transfusion slowly, infused within < 4 hours