King Saud University

College of Nursing
King Fahd Medical City

Blood Transfusion

Hatem Alsrour
 Out line
 Definition.
 Objective.
 What is a Blood ?
 Blood Types.
 Types of Blood Transfusion.
 Who Needs a Blood Transfusion ?
 Before a Blood Transfusion.
 During a Blood Transfusion.
 After a Blood Transfusion.
 Risks of Blood Transfusion.
 References.
 Definition ( Blood Transfusion )
 isthe process of transferring blood or
blood-based products from one
person into the circulatory system of
another.
 Objective
 Recognise different blood components and
explain why they might be prescribed.
 Understand the essential safety measures
necessary when collecting and transporting blood
from the blood bank to a clinical area.
 Minimise risk through the use of appropriate patient
and component identification checks.
 Make informed decisions about patient care before,
during and after a blood transfusion.
 Confidently respond in the event of an adverse
reaction to transfused blood.
 ? What is a Blood
Blood is composed of fluid and different kinds of
blood cells:
• Plasma is the fluid portion of blood.
• White Blood Cells protect against disease and infection. It range 4.5
– 11 k/ul
• Platelets help form blood clots when bleeding occurs. It range 150 –
450 k/ul .
• Red Blood Cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the other cells of
the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs. It range 4 – 5.5
k/ul
 Blood Types
 Every person has one of the following blood
types:
A, B, AB, or O.
 Also, every person's blood is either Rh-
positive or Rh-negative. So, if you have type
A blood, it's either A positive or A negative.
 If you have Rh-positive blood, you can get Rh-
positive or Rh-negative blood. But if you have Rh-
negative blood, you should get only Rh-negative
blood. Rh-negative blood is used for emergencies
when there's no time to test a person's Rh type.
 Type O blood is safe for almost everyone. About 40
percent the population has type O blood.
 People with type AB blood are called universal
recipients. This means they can get any type of
blood.
No YES
 Types of Blood Transfusion
Blood is transfused either as whole blood (with all its parts) or, more
often, as individual parts. The type of blood transfusion you need
depends on your situation:
 Red Blood Cell Transfusions

Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused part of the blood. These
cells carry oxygen from the lungs to your body's organs and tissues. They also
help your body get rid of carbon dioxide and other waste products. You may
need a transfusion of red blood cells if you've lost blood due to an injury or
surgery.

 Platelets and Clotting Factor Transfusions

Platelets and clotting factors help stop bleeding, including internal bleeding
that you can't see. Some illnesses may cause your body to not make enough
platelets or other clotting factors. You may need regular transfusions of these
parts of your blood to stay healthy.
  Plasma Transfusions

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It's mainly water, but also contains
proteins, clotting factors, hormones, vitamins, cholesterol, sugar, sodium,
potassium, calcium, and more. If you have been badly burned or have liver
failure or a severe infection, you may need a plasma transfusion.
 ? Who Needs a Blood Transfusion
 Many people who have surgery need blood transfusions because they
lose blood during the operation. For example, about one-third of all
heart surgery patients have a transfusion.

 Some people who have serious injuries—such as from car wrecks,

war, or natural disasters—need blood transfusions.

 Some people need blood or parts of the blood because of illnesses.

You may need a blood transfusion if you have:
- A severe infection or liver disease that stops your body from properly making blood or
some parts of blood.
- An illness that causes anemia, such as kidney disease or cancer. Medicines or radiation
used to treat a medical condition also can cause anemia.
- A bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia or thrombocytopenia.
 Before a Blood Transfusion
 The nurse should being sure of:

- The doctor order and signature.

- The serial number of blood unit.

- The blood type of ordered unit and pt’s blood type.

- Date of having blood unit not exceed one month.

 During a Blood Transfusion
The nurse should :
 Assessment of vital signs prior to transfusion.
 Tow nurses verify correct and unit of blood
are correctly matched.
 Direct observation of client during first 15
minutes of infusion.
 Check vital signs according to protocol.
 If blood transfusion reaction occur the nurse
should:
 Stop transfusion immediately.
 Continue IV infusion with normal saline.
 Notify physician of client’s signs and symptoms.
 Provide care for client as indicated.
 Complete reaction from according to institution protocol.
 Obtain urine specimen from client and send for free
hemoglobin.
 After a Blood Transfusion
 After a blood transfusion, vital signs are
checked (such as your temperature, blood
pressure, and heart rate).
 The patient maybe have some bruising or
soreness for a few days at the site where the
IV was inserted .
 need blood tests that show how your body is
reacting to the transfusion.
 Risks of Blood Transfusion
Most blood transfusions go very smoothly. However, mild
problems and, very rarely, serious problems can occur.
Such as:
 Allergic Reaction
 Viruses and Infectious Diseases
 Fever
 Iron Overload
 Lung Injury
 Acute Immune Hemolytic Reaction
 Delayed Hemolytic Reaction

 Graft-Versus-Host Disease
 References
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_transfusion
 http://www.bloodtransfusion.com/
 www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bt/bt_whatis.html
 www.emro.who.int
 www.who.int/topics/blood_transfusion
 http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/medical_care/transfusions.h
tml
 http://faculty.valenciacc.edu/jclark/Manny/studentBloodTransfusi
on.ppt
 http://www.rdasa.com.au/conference/documents/KathrynRobinso
n-BloodTransfusion.pdf