Blood Transfusion Therapy

UPDATED ON APRIL 20, 2016

BY MATT VERA, BSN, R.N.

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Blood transfusion (BT) therapy involves transfusing whole blood or blood

components (specific portion or fraction of blood lacking in patient). Learn the
concepts behind blood transfusion therapy and the nursing management and
interventions before, during and after the therapy.

 Advantages
 Principles
 Blood Components
 Objectives
 Nursing Interventions
 Complications
 Assessment findings
 Nursing Diagnosis
 Planning and Implementation
 Nursing Interventions
 Evaluation

Advantages
 1. Avoids the risk of sensitizing the patients to other blood components.
2. Provides optimal therapeutic benefit while reducing risk of volume
overload.
3. Increases availability of needed blood products to larger population.
Principles
Whole blood transfusion

Generally indicated only for patients who need both increased oxygen-carrying
capacity and restoration of blood volume when there is no time to prepare or
obtain the specific blood components needed.

Packed RBCs

Should be transfused over 2 to 3 hours; if patient cannot tolerate volume over a

maximum of 4 hours, it may be necessary for the blood bank to divide a unit into
smaller volumes, providing proper refrigeration of remaining blood until needed.
One unit of packed red cells should raise hemoglobin approximately 1%,
hemactocrit 3%.

Platelets

Administer as rapidly as tolerated (usually 4 units every 30 to 60 minutes). Each

unit of platelets should raise the recipient’s platelet count by 6000 to
10,000/mm3: however, poor incremental increases occur with alloimmunization
from previous transfusions, bleeding, fever, infection, autoimmune destruction,
and hypertension.

Granulocytes

May be beneficial in selected population of infected, severely granulocytopenic

patients (less than 500/mm3) not responding to antibiotic therapy and who are
expected to experienced prolonged suppressed granulocyte production.

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Plasma
Because plasma carries a risk of hepatitis equal to that of whole blood, if only
volume expansion is required, other colloids (e.g., albumin) or electrolyte
solutions (e.g., Ringer’s lactate) are preferred. Fresh frozen plasma should be
administered as rapidly as tolerated because coagulation factors become
unstable after thawing.

Albumin

Indicated to expand to blood volume of patients in hypovolemic shock and to

elevate level of circulating albumin in patients with hypoalbuminemia. The large
protein molecule is a major contributor to plasma oncotic pressure.

Cryoprecipitate

Indicated for treatment of hemophilia A, Von Willebrand’s disease, disseminated

intravascular coagulation (DIC), and uremic bleeding.

Factor IX concentrate

Indicated for treatment of hemophilia B; carries a high risk of hepatitis because it

requires pooling from many donors.

Factor VIII concentrate

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Indicated for treatment of hemophilia A; heat-treated product decreases the risk

of hepatitis and HIV transmission.

Prothrombin complex

Indicated in congenital or acquired deficiencies of these factors.

Blood Components
Component Additional Info
Packed RBCs 100% of erythrocyte, 100% of leukocytes, and 20% of
plasma originally present in one unit of whole blood

Leukocyte-poor packed RBCs Indicated for patients who have experience previous
febrile no hemolytic reactions

Platelets either HLA (human leukocyte antigen) matched or

unmatched

Granulocytes Contains basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils

Fresh frozen plasma Contains all coagulation factors, including factors V and
VIII

Single donor plasma Contains all stable coagulation factors but reduced levels
of factors V and VIII; the preferred product for reversal
of Coumadin-induced anticoagulation.

Albumin A plasma protein.

Cryoprecipitate A plasma derivative rich in factor VIII, fibrinogen, factor

XIII, and fibronectin

Factor IX concentrate A concentrated form of factor IX prepared by pooling,

fractionating, and freeze-drying large volumes of plasma.

Factor VIII concentrate A concentrated form of factor IX prepared by pooling,

fractionating, and freeze-drying large volumes of plasma.

Prothrombin complex Contains prothrombin and factors VII, IX, X, and some
factor XI.

Objectives
1. To increase circulating blood volume after surgery, trauma, or hemorrhage
2. To increase the number of RBCs and to maintain hemoglobin levels in
clients with severe anemia
3. To provide selected cellular components as replacements therapy (e.g.
clotting factors, platelets, albumin)
Nursing Interventions
1. Verify doctor’s order. Inform the client and explain the purpose of the
procedure.
 2. Check for cross matching and typing. To ensure compatibility
3. Obtain and record baseline vital signs
4. Practice strict asepsis
5. At least 2 licensed nurse check the label of the blood transfusion. Check
the following:
 Serial number
 Blood component
 Blood type
 Rh factor
 Expiration date
 Screening test (VDRL, HBsAg, malarial smear) – this is to ensure that
the blood is free from blood-carried diseases and therefore, safe from
transfusion.
6. Warm blood at room temperature before transfusion to prevent chills.
7. Identify client properly. Two Nurses check the client’s identification.
8. Use needle gauge 18 to 19 to allow easy flow of blood.
9. Use BT set with special micron mesh filter to prevent administration of
blood clots and particles.
10.Start infusion slowly at 10 gtts/min. Remain at bedside for 15 to 30
minutes. Adverse reaction usually occurs during the first 15 to 20 minutes.
11.Monitor vital signs. Altered vital signs indicate adverse reaction (increase in
temp, increase in respiratory rate)
12.Do not mix medications with blood transfusion to prevent adverse effects.
Do not incorporate medication into the blood transfusion. Do not use
blood transfusion lines for IV push of medication.
13. Administer 0.9% NaCl before; during or after BT. Never administer IV
fluids with dextrose. Dextrose based IV fluids cause hemolysis.
14.Administer BT for 4 hours (whole blood, packed RBC). For plasma, platelets,
cryoprecipitate, transfuse quickly (20 minutes) clotting factor can easily be
destroyed.
15.Observe for potential complications. Notify physician.
Complications
1. Allergic Reaction – it is caused by sensitivity to plasma protein of donor
antibody, which reacts with recipient antigen.

Assess for:
  Flushing
 Rash, hives
 Pruritus
 Laryngeal edema, difficulty of breathing
2. Febrile, Non-Hemolytic – it is caused by hypersensitivity to donor white cells,
platelets or plasma proteins. This is the most symptomatic complication of blood
transfusion

Assess for:

 Sudden chills and fever

 Flushing
 Headache
 Anxiety
3. Septic Reaction – it is caused by the transfusion of blood or components
contaminated with bacteria.

Assess for:

 Rapid onset of chills

 Vomiting
 Marked Hypotension
 High fever
4. Circulatory Overload – it is caused by administration of blood volume at a
rate greater than the circulatory system can accommodate.

Assess for:

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 Rise in venous pressure

 Dyspnea
 Crackles or rales
 Distended neck vein
 Cough
 Elevated BP
5. Hemolytic reaction – it is caused by infusion of incompatible blood products.
Assess for:

 Low back pain (first sign). This is due to inflammatory response of the

kidneys to incompatible blood.
 Chills
 Feeling of fullness
 Tachycardia
 Flushing
 Tachypnea
 Hypotension
 Bleeding
 Vascular collapse
 Acute renal failure
Assessment findings
1. Clinical manifestations of transfusions complications vary depending on
the precipitating factor.
2. Signs and symptoms of hemolytic transfusion reaction include:
 Fever
 Chills
 low back pain
 flank pain
 headache
 nausea
 flushing
 tachycardia
 tachypnea
 hypotension
 hemoglobinuria (cola-colored urine)
3. Clinical signs and laboratory findings in delayed hemolytic reaction include:
 fever
 mild jaundice
 gradual fall of hemoglobin
 positive Coombs’ test
4. Febrile non-hemolytic reaction is marked by:
 Temperature rise during or shortly after transfusion
 Chills
  headache
 flushing
 anxiety
5. Signs and symptoms of septic reaction include;
 Rapid onset of high fever and chills
 vomiting
 diarrhea
 marked hypotension
6. Allergic reactions may produce:
 hives
 generalized pruritus
 wheezing or anaphylaxis (rarely)
7. Signs and symptoms of circulatory overload include:
 Dyspnea
 cough
 rales
 jugular vein distention
8. Manifestations of infectious disease transmitted through transfusion may
develop rapidly or insidiously, depending on the disease.
9. Characteristics of GVH disease include:
 skin changes (e.g. erythema, ulcerations, scaling)
 edema
 hair loss
 hemolytic anemia
10.Reactions associated with massive transfusion produce varying
manifestations
Nursing Diagnosis
1. Ineffective breathing pattern
2. Decreased Cardiac Output
3. Fluid Volume Deficit
4. Fluid Volume Excess
5. Impaired Gas Exchange
6. Hyperthermia
7. Hypothermia
8. High Risk for Infection
9. High Risk for Injury
 10.Pain
11. Impaired Skin Integrity
12. Altered Tissue Perfusion

Planning and Implementation

Help prevent transfusion reaction by:

 Meticulously verifying patient identification beginning with type and

crossmatch sample collection and labeling to double check blood product
and patient identification prior to transfusion.
 Inspecting the blood product for any gas bubbles, clothing, or abnormal
color before administration.
 Beginning transfusion slowly ( 1 to 2 mL/min) and observing the patient
closely, particularly during the first 15 minutes (severe reactions usually
manifest within 15 minutes after the start of transfusion).
 Transfusing blood within 4 hours, and changing blood tubing every 4 hours
to minimize the risk of bacterial growth at warm room temperatures.
 Preventing infectious disease transmission through careful donor screening
or performing pretest available to identify selected infectious agents.
 Preventing GVH disease by ensuring irradiation of blood products
containing viable WBC’s (i.e., whole blood, platelets, packed RBC’s and
granulocytes) before transfusion; irradiation alters ability of
donor lymphocytes to engraft and divide.
 Preventing hypothermia by warming blood unit to 37 C before transfusion.
 Removing leukocytes and platelets aggregates from donor blood by
installing a microaggregate filter (20-40-um size) in the blood line to
remove these aggregates during transfusion.
On detecting any signs or symptoms of reaction:

 Stop the transfusion immediately, and notify the physician.

 Disconnect the transfusion set-but keep the IV line open with 0.9% saline
to provide access for possible IV drug infusion.
 Send the blood bag and tubing to the blood bank for repeat typing and
culture.
 Draw another blood sample for plasma hemoglobin, culture, and retyping.
 Collect a urine sample as soon as possible for hemoglobin determination.
Intervene as appropriate to address symptoms of the specific reaction:
  Treatment for hemolytic reaction is directed at correcting hypotension, DIC,
and renal failure associated with RBC hemolysis and hemoglobinuria.
 Febrile, nonhemolytic transfusion reactions are treated symptomatically
with antipyretics; leukocyte-poor blood products may be recommended for
subsequent transfusions.
 In septic reaction, treat septicemia with antibiotics, increased hydration,
steroids and vasopressors as prescribed.
 Intervene for allergic reaction by administering antihistamines, steroids
and epinephrine as indicated by the severity of the reaction. (If hives are
the only manifestation, transfusion can sometimes continue but at a slower
rate.)
 For circulatory overload, immediate treatment includes positioning the
patient upright with feet dependent; diuretics, oxygen and aminophylline
may be prescribed.
Nursing Interventions
1. If blood transfusion reaction occurs:  STOP THE TRANSFUSION.
2. Start IV line (0.9% NaCl)
3. Place the client in Fowler’s position if with Shortness of Breath and
administer O2 therapy.
4. The nurse remains with the client, observing signs and symptoms and
monitoring vital signs as often as every 5 minutes.
5. Notify the physician immediately.
6. The nurse prepares to administer emergency drugs such as antihistamines,
vasopressor, fluids, and steroids as per physician’s order or protocol.
7. Obtain a urine specimen and send to the laboratory to determine presence
of hemoglobin as a result of RBC hemolysis.
8. Blood container, tubing, attached label, and transfusion record are saved
and returned to the laboratory for analysis.
Evaluation
1. The patient maintains normal breathing pattern.
2. The patient demonstrates adequate cardiac output.
3. The patient reports minimal or no discomfort.
4. The patient maintains good fluid balance.
5. The patient remains normothermic.
6. The patient remains free of infection.
7. The patient maintains good skin integrity, with no lesions or pruritus.
8. The patient maintains or returns to normal electrolyte and blood chemistry
values.