Transfusion-related acute lung injury in an infant during craniofacial surgery.
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a potentially life-threatening, systemic, immune-mediated reaction to transfused blood product. The symptoms may be masked under general anesthesia. In this case report, we describe an infant who developed TRALI under general anesthesia for craniofacial surgery. The difficulty with diagnosis, the pathophysiology, and the need for understanding and recognition to reduce morbidity and mortality are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a life-threatening problem that can occur during blood product transfusion in patients of any age. Understanding the pathophysiology may help make an earlier diagnosis to reduce more serious adverse outcomes.
Ririe
Douglas G
DG
Departments of *Anesthesiology, †Pathology, ‡Neurosurgery, and §Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Lantz
Patrick E
PE
Glazier
Steven S
SS
Argenta
Louis C
LC
D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction