Lecture 4: Blood products and transfusion

Question 1

What component parts can blood be split into for transfusions?

Answer 1

Red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, recombinant factors

Question 2

What methods can be used to try and avoid transfusion?

Answer 2

Stopping anticoagulants like aspirin before an operation or peri-operative blood salvage

Question 3

Why are return donors used to treat babies?

Answer 3

Their blood has already been tested and used before so it should be the safest

Question 4

What are red cells suspended in?

Answer 4

SAGM, an anti-coagulant

Question 5

Why is a red blood cell transfusion leucodepleted before use?

Answer 5

To reduce the risk of infection e.g. from mad cow disease

Question 6

What red cell suspension is used for in utero and 4 week old baby transfusions?

Answer 6

CPD

Question 7

Why are red cells washed?

Answer 7

To remove any excess plasma proteins which cause a reaction in some patients

Question 8

Which blood groups can receive which groups by transfusion and why?

Answer 8

A has anti-B antibodies so can receive group A or O, vice versa for group B. AB has no antibodies against any antigen so can receive any blood type. O has no antigen so can be given to anyone but can only receive O as it has anti-A and B antibodies.

Question 9

What is the consequence of transfusing the wrong blood type?

Answer 9

Acute intravasular haemolysis

Question 10

What is the Rh system?

Answer 10

Refers to a group of transmembrane antigens on RBCs- D, C, c, E & e. Only referred to as Rh positive if D is present. d refers to lack of D.

Question 11

What is the Rh nomenclature?

Answer 11

R- big D is present, r- no big D, 1- C present, 2 E present

Question 12

What causes haemolytic disease of the newborn?

Answer 12

If the mother is Rh negative and the baby is Rh positive, the mother can make anti-D antibodies causing haemolysis in the baby

Question 13

What is the risk associated with platelet transfusion?

Answer 13

It is stored at room temp so it can culture bacteria and cause bacterial sepsis and after multiple treatments, patients can develop antibodies to the platelets.

Question 14

What is the function of platelets?

Answer 14

They help form blood clots when bleeding

Question 15

What is fresh frozen plasma used to treat?

Answer 15

Depletion or deficiency of coagulation factors, liver disease

Question 16

What is cryoprecipitate?

Answer 16

It is a precipitate prepared from fresh frozen plasma as it thaws and is used to replace fibrinogen.

Question 17

What is albumin used for?

Answer 17

Plasma volume replacement

Question 18

What are some complications of a red cell transfusion?

Answer 18

Transfusion associated circulatory overload, potassium leakage from red cells during storage, haemolytic reactions, iron overload, transfusion transmitted infections.