title: Transfusion-associated circulatory overload in Ireland: a review of cases reported to the National Haemovigilance Office 2000 to 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) is an increasingly reported condition but symptoms and signs are still unrecognized. We present a review of the incidence and clinical features of TACO reported to the National Haemovigilance Office at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2010, a total of 1071 cases of serious transfusion-related reactions were reported, of which 221 (21%) cases were TACO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,000,684 blood components were issued, with a TACO incidence of one in 9177. The TACO incidence per red blood cells, plasma, and platelet components issued was one in 8000, one in 16,000, and one in 57,884, respectively. The majority of cases (68%, n = 151) were elderly patients, while no sex difference was seen. Twenty-eight (13%) patients experienced severe morbidity; 31 (14%) deaths were reported, of which five (2%) were considered due to TACO and the other deaths considered due to and underlying conditions, which in most cases were cardiovascular (76%). An increased risk of mortality was found in patients on diuretics either before transfusion as part of their routine therapy or given as pretransfusion medication (odds ratio, 2.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-6.01). In 19 (21%) cases, TACO reaction was due to human error.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strong association between TACO and human errors supports the role of hemovigilance and of adequate transfusion medicine teaching for preventing morbidity and mortality associated with TACO.
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland.|Trinity College University, Dublin, Ireland.|Hematology Department, San Maurizio Regional Hospital, South Tyrol, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccin
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Róisín
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcheselli
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland.|Trinity College University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Emer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lawlor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D058731:Blood Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D001810:Blood Volume; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics