Fatal Post-Transfusion Reactions

One cannot help being impressed by the rare occurrence of death immediately following and directly attributable to blood transfusion. There have been two such accidents in 4,000 transfusions that I have performed, which constitutes a mortality of 0.05 per cent. In view of the uniformly beneficial results derived from transfusion, with which all physicians are familiar, the procedure frequently assuming the proportions of a miraculous life-saving operation, the mortality is insignificant and compares favorably with that caused by other forms of treatment. No intravenous procedure is entirely free from danger. The mortality following arsphenamine injection is nearly that which follows blood transfusion. When a blood transfusion is clearly indicated and necessary, as all surgical and medical treatment should be, the risk is negligible because the end justifies the means. Post-transfusion reactions may be classified as: (1) those due to incompatibility; (2) chemical reactions, and (3) allergic reactions. In this series