HAEMOVIGILANCE IN SLOVENIA IN YEARS 2002–2006

Abstract

BACKGROUND Adverse reactions and preventive actions have accompanied transfusion medicine fromits beginning. Because of this, a haemovigilance system is imperative. The development ofthe haemovigilance system is taking place in Slovenia from 2000 ever since Law on BloodProcurement was adopted. METHODS The data of all adverse reactions was collected from 2002 in all hospitals where bloodtransfusions were being performed. Later, the collection of data of transfusion related unexpected red cell antibodies, near-miss events and of adverse reactions and events related tothe process begining with blood donation to the issuing of blood have begun. RESULTS From 2002 to 2006 there were 697 reports collected of nearly all types of adverse reactionsand events, with no report of any long-time morbidity or transfusion related deaths.46 reactions were severe. There were considerable differences among Slovenian hospitalsbetween the number of reports compared to the number of blood components issued,ranging from 1 to 3.5 adverse reactions per 1000 blood components issued. CONCLUSIONS The quality of adverse reactions and events reporting has been improving from 2002 to2006. The collected data represents the basis for the identification of critical points in theblood tranfusion chain as well as the improvement of blood transfusion safety