Diagnosis, Treatment, and Reporting of Adverse Effects of Transfusion

The risks of transfusion remain significant. Familiarity with the incidence, etiology, management, and prevention of commonly encountered transfusion reactions is integral to the practice of transfusion medicine. This review intends to serve as a practical guide reflecting the current understanding of adverse transfusion events, clinical features helpful for diagnosis, and recommended management strategies for typical scenarios. Severe and mild transfusion reactions are covered, with a focus on the distinguishing features of challenging clinical dilemmas. Topics include pulmonary complications of transfusion, hemolytic reactions, allergic and anaphylactic reactions, septic reactions, and febrile responses to transfusion. We also discuss a consultative approach to evaluation and reporting of transfusion reactions. Readers should be able to describe the incidence, pathogenesis, management, prevention, and reporting of transfusion reactions.