AN AUDIT OF IMMEDIATE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION REPORTED IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Data from specific registers of the Medical College Hospital Blood Bank from 2008 to 2010 was collected to audit the occurrence of immediate transfusion reactions (ITR) and their distribution across the various blood products that were issued. The average occurrence of ITR during the study period was 2.3 per 1000 issues. Of the 100 ITR that occurred during the study period 63 were mild allergic reactions followed by febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR). Packed RBCs were responsible for 91 percent of the FNHTR while allergic reaction was noted with all the blood products. All the three anaphylactoid reactions were observed with the use of fresh frozen plasma. The use of lab side leukocyte filters would play a significant role in bringing down the incidence of FNHTR associated with the use of Packed RBCs.