Haemovigilance in a general university hospital: need for a more comprehensive classification and a codification of transfusion-related events.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyse the transfusion-related events recorded in a general university hospital.


METHODS
The method we used was retrospective analysis of the data collected between 1999 and 2003.


RESULTS
The incidence of transfusion reactions (n = 394) was 4.19 per 1000 blood products distributed: 59% (n = 231) were febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions; 22% (n = 88) were caused by allergy; 5% (n = 21) were caused by bacterial infection; and 14% (n = 54) were classified as other reactions. Platelet concentrates gave rise to a significantly greater number of reactions than erythrocyte concentrates and fresh-frozen plasma. Transfusion errors and near-miss events were also observed and were analysed separately. A series of transfusion-related events, such as haemosiderosis, metabolic disturbances or volume overload, were not reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience prompts us to propose a more comprehensive classification and codification of transfusion-related events.
Siegenthaler
M A
MA
Service Régional Vaudois de Transfusion Sanguine, Lausanne, Switzerland. michele.siegenthaler@hospvd.ch
Schneider
P
P
Vu
D-H
DH
Tissot
J-D
JD
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002965:Classification; D003625:Data Collection; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D007518:Isoantibodies; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D007518:Isoantibodies