Start Date

5-15-2025 9:30 AM

End Date

5-15-2025 11:30 AM

Description

Background

  • Blood product transfusion reactions are associated with a spectrum of signs/ symptoms and can be challenging to identify. Transfusion reactions occur in about 1.1% of transfusions and constitute a significant source of iatrogenic morbidity and mortality.
  • There is a nationwide under-reporting of transfusion reactions to blood transfusion Services.
  • At TJUH, formally reported reactions comprised 0.24% of all blood product transfusions in 2024, similar to the national reporting average of 0.22%.
  • Transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO), and Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) are two leading causes of mortality of blood transfusion reactions (Figure 1).
  • Under-reporting leads to false data on rates of transfusion reactions. Some of the reasons reactions are not reported include:
    • Lack of education on clinician/nursing on how to report
    • Transfusion reaction not identified
    • Reporting may not lead to management changes

Keywords

blood bank, transfusion reaction, TRALI, TACO, blood transfusion, platelet transfusion

Comments

Presented at the 2025 Jefferson Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit.

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May 15th, 9:30 AM May 15th, 11:30 AM

Improving Recognition and Reporting of Blood Transfusion Reactions in the Inpatient Setting

Background

  • Blood product transfusion reactions are associated with a spectrum of signs/ symptoms and can be challenging to identify. Transfusion reactions occur in about 1.1% of transfusions and constitute a significant source of iatrogenic morbidity and mortality.
  • There is a nationwide under-reporting of transfusion reactions to blood transfusion Services.
  • At TJUH, formally reported reactions comprised 0.24% of all blood product transfusions in 2024, similar to the national reporting average of 0.22%.
  • Transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO), and Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) are two leading causes of mortality of blood transfusion reactions (Figure 1).
  • Under-reporting leads to false data on rates of transfusion reactions. Some of the reasons reactions are not reported include:
    • Lack of education on clinician/nursing on how to report
    • Transfusion reaction not identified
    • Reporting may not lead to management changes