Complications of blood transfusion
Acute and delayed transfusion reactions, the first steps when a reaction starts, TRALI versus TACO, irradiated and CMV-safe components, massive transfusion problems, and Australian thresholds and reporting.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Most serious harm comes from wrong blood in tube or wrong patient at the bedside, and from circulatory overload (TACO), now a leading cause of transfusion-related death in international haemovigilance data.
- First move for any reaction: stop the transfusion, keep the line open, check identity and unit, then assess severity.
- Fever with hypotension, back pain or haemoglobinuria is acute haemolysis or bacterial contamination until proven otherwise.
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Sources
- Adverse events and management of suspected transfusion reactionsAU/NZAustralian Red Cross Lifeblood, Updated September 2026
- Patient Blood Management Guidelines: Module 3, Medical (archived)AU/NZNational Blood Authority, 2012; archived July 2026 as a historical reference, future of the PBM guidelines under evaluation
- Restrictive or liberal transfusion strategy in myocardial infarction and anemia (MINT)Carson JL et al., N Engl J Med 2023;389:2446-56, 2023
- Patient blood management guideline for adults with critical bleedingAU/NZNational Blood Authority, 2023, updated 2025
- Guidelines for the administration of blood products, 3rd editionAU/NZAustralian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion, 2018, minor revision February 2024
- Prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, 2nd editionAU/NZAustralian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion, January 2024
- ANZSBT position statement on prevention of transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirusAU/NZAustralian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion, May 2026
- A consensus redefinition of transfusion-related acute lung injuryVlaar APJ et al., Transfusion 2019;59:2465-76, 2019
- Revised international surveillance case definition of transfusion-associated circulatory overloadWiersum-Osselton JC et al., Lancet Haematol 2019;6:e350-8, 2018 ISBT definition
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy