A study of acute transfusion reactions at a tertiary care center: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Background: Blood transfusion refers to the therapeutic use of blood products, and while often lifesaving, it carries a variety of potential complications. Ensuring access to safe and sufficient blood is a critical component of healthcare, leading to the development of hemovigilance. Hemovigilance is essential for improving patient safety by learning from errors and implementing system-wide changes to prevent their recurrence. A comprehensive assessment of adverse events is the primary goal of hemovigilance. Aim: To assess the frequency and types of acute transfusion reactions (ATRs). Objectives: (1) To examine the types of ATRs related to the specific blood components transfused. (2) To analyze ATRs based on different clinical parameters. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted over 3 years, evaluating all transfusion reactions reported to the Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion at Mahatma Gandhi Mission College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai. Reactions were assessed according to the institution’s established protocol. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20, with significance at P < 0.05. Results: During the study period, 22,188 blood component units were issued, of which 38 (0.174%) resulted in an ATR. Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR) accounted for 31 cases (81.58%), allergic transfusion reactions for six cases (15.79%), and one case (2.63%) involved an immunologic hemolytic transfusion reaction caused by alloantibodies. Among the reported ATRs, 37 (97.36%) were associated with packed red cells (PRC), while 1 (2.64%) occurred with fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Conclusion: FNHTR was the most common ATR, followed by allergic reactions. These findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and strict adherence to standard protocols in blood transfusion practices to enhance patient safety.