The management of emergency blood transfusion including massive transfusion, emergency and massive transfusion

Abstract

In order to prevent hypovolemic shock and its consequences early diagnosis and prompt treating of the patient is vital, as well as the urgent provision of blood. The most important aspects of effective blood supply are: 1) efficient communication (emergency physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, specialist in transfusion medicine, haematologist, support services); 2) documenting/investigating (reports of adverse reactions and errors or incidents associated with massive blood transfusions, evidence of harm; 3) implementation of national guidelines and local protocols for clinic and laboratory management of major haemorrhage; 4) pretransfusion testing (ABO group and RhD typing of patients red cells, full serological blood cross-matching which includes anti-human globulin phase AHG). In emergency situations the following can also be applied: a) O RhD-negative uncrossmatched blood; b) ABO and Rhesus-compatible uncrossmatched blood; c) ABO and Rhesus-compatible crossmatched blood (without AHG).

Keywords

• blood grouping and crossmatching
• emergency treatment
• blood group incompatibility
• blood component transfusion
• shock
• hemorrhagic