Acute Transfusion Reactions (ATRs) in Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A Retrospective Study.
BACKGROUND
Blood transfusion is a frequent and integral part of critical care. Although life saving, it can occasionally be unsafe and result in a spectrum of adverse events. Acute transfusion reactions (ATRs) are probably under diagnosed in critically ill patients due to confusion of the symptoms with the underlying disease.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the incidence and spectrum of ATRs occuring in critically ill patients.


METHODS
This was a retrospective review conducted from 1(st) April 2011 till 31(st) March 2013. The ATRs related to the administration of blood components in the patients admitted in various Intensive Care Units (ICUs) were recorded, analyzed and classified on the basis of their clinical features and laboratory tests.


RESULTS
During the study period 98651 blood components were issued. Out of these 21971 were issued to various ICUs. A total of 225 transfusion reactions were reported from the various critical care departments during this period. The most frequent were Febrile Non Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions (FNHTR) 136 (60.4%), allergic reactions 70 (31.2%), hemolytic reactions 1(0.4%) and non specific reactions 18 (8%). The incidence of ATRs in our study was found to be 1.09% in adult ICUs and 0.36% in pediatric ICUs.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood transfusion is a vital therapeutic procedure with a potential risk to already critical patients. So a strict vigilance has to be kept and each transfusion has to be monitored carefully with prompt recognition and treatment of ATRs. A rational use of these products considering their deleterious effects can decrease transfusion related morbidity and mortality in the critically ill patients.
Associate Professor, Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion (IHBT), Dayanand Medical College and Hospital , Ludhiana, Punjab, India .
Rajesh
R
Kumar
Senior Resident, Department of IHBT, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital , Ludhiana, Punjab, India .
Manvi
M
Gupta
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital , Ludhiana, Punjab, India .
Varun
V
Gupta
Professor and Head, Department of IHBT, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital , Ludhiana, Punjab, India .
Amarjit
A
Kaur
Assistant Professor, Department of IHBT, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital , Ludhiana, Punjab, India .
Sonia
S
Gupta
Blood components; Critically ill; Rational use