What it means
Reactions range from mild to life-threatening. They include allergic reactions (itching, hives, wheezing), fever reactions, acute hemolytic reactions when the blood type is wrong and the body destroys the donor cells, fluid overload, lung injury, and infection from contaminated blood. Most serious reactions start within the first 15 minutes, which is why the nurse stays with the client then.
For the nurse
At any sign of a reaction, stop the transfusion, keep the IV open with 0.9% sodium chloride through new tubing, stay with the client, check vital signs, and notify the provider and blood bank. Send the blood bag and tubing back as policy directs.
At a glance
| Spanish | reacción transfusional |
|---|---|
| Also written | transfusion reactions |
Related terms
blood transfusion
Giving blood, or a part of blood, from a donor into a person's vein.
anaphylaxis
A sudden, severe allergic reaction that affects the whole body.
fluid overload
Too much fluid in the body, in the blood vessels and the tissues.
packed red blood cell
A blood product made of red blood cells with most of the plasma removed, given by transfusion.