What should be explained to a patient before a blood transfusion regarding indications, benefits, risks, alternatives, and consent?

What to Explain When Transfusing Blood

Before any anticipated blood transfusion, you must discuss the transfusion with the patient and document valid consent, covering indications, benefits, risks, and alternatives. 1

Core Elements of Pre-Transfusion Discussion

Indications and Benefits

• Explain the specific clinical reason the patient needs transfusion based on their condition (e.g., symptomatic anemia causing shortness of breath, dizziness, decreased exercise tolerance; acute blood loss >30% of blood volume; or preparation for surgery with expected significant bleeding). 2, 3
• Describe the expected outcome: red blood cells improve oxygen delivery to tissues and relieve symptoms of anemia; platelets prevent or treat bleeding in thrombocytopenia; plasma corrects coagulopathy in bleeding patients. 2, 3
• Clarify that transfusion can be life-saving but is a scarce resource that should be used appropriately. 1

Risks That Must Be Disclosed

Infectious risks (though now uncommon due to screening): 4, 5

• Viral transmission (HIV, hepatitis B and C)
• Bacterial contamination (particularly with platelets)
• Other transmissible infections

Immunologic and serious non-infectious complications (more common than infections): 4, 5, 3

• Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO): now the most common cause of transfusion-related death, presenting as fluid overload with respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, and cardiovascular changes during or up to 12 hours after transfusion. 6, 7
• Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI): non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema with hypoxemia, fever, and dyspnea appearing 1-2 hours after transfusion. 6
• Acute hemolytic reactions: most dangerous when wrong blood type is given (ABO incompatibility), causing rapid red cell destruction with fever, back pain, chest pain, and potential kidney failure. 6
• Allergic reactions: ranging from mild urticaria to severe anaphylaxis with hypotension and bronchospasm. 6
• Febrile non-hemolytic reactions: fever occurring in approximately 1.1% of transfusions. 6

Immunomodulatory effects: transfusion may affect the immune system. 4

Alternatives to Allogeneic Blood Transfusion

Present available alternatives based on the clinical scenario: 4

• Cell salvage: for surgical patients where blood loss >500 mL is anticipated (must use leucocyte filter in malignancy or obstetric cases). 1
• Tranexamic acid: reduces bleeding in surgical and trauma patients. 1
• Erythropoietin with or without iron: for selected patient populations, particularly those with pre-operative anemia. 4
• Pre-operative anemia management: detecting and treating anemia before elective surgery (Hb <130 g/L in men, <120 g/L in women) to avoid transfusion need. 1

Critical Safety Information to Convey

Identity Verification Process

• Explain that positive patient identification is paramount to prevent the most serious transfusion error—giving the wrong blood type. 1, 4
• The patient must wear an identification wristband with four core identifiers (first name, last name, date of birth, patient identification number) throughout the transfusion episode. 1, 4
• Staff will perform bedside checks immediately before transfusion, verifying the patient's identity against the blood component label. 1

Monitoring During Transfusion

• Vital signs will be monitored at minimum: before starting, 15 minutes after starting each unit, at completion, and 15 minutes post-transfusion. 1, 7
• The first 10 minutes are critical—most immediate reactions occur within the first minute. 6
• Respiratory rate monitoring is essential as dyspnea and tachypnea are early symptoms of serious reactions. 1
• Patients should immediately report any symptoms including feeling "odd" or "uncomfortable," fever, chills, rash, itching, back pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, or rapid heartbeat. 6

Post-Transfusion Information

• Patients must be informed before discharge that they received blood products, as they will otherwise be unaware. 1
• This removes them from the blood donor pool—they can no longer donate blood themselves. 1
• The patient's general practitioner will be notified of the transfusion. 1
• 100% traceability is a legal requirement—all transfusions must be documented in the patient record. 1, 7

Documentation Requirements

Valid consent must be documented in the patient record before proceeding with anticipated transfusion. 1

All prescriptions for transfusion must be documented on either the anaesthetic chart or drug/fluid prescription chart. 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never assume patients understand transfusion risks—studies show only 27.8% of patients recall being informed of risks, even when discussions occurred. 8
• Do not rely solely on verbal explanation—provide written information leaflets, which are available free from blood services and improve patient understanding. 8
• Avoid technical jargon—only 51.5% of patients find transfusion discussions easy to understand. 8
• Do not skip the alternatives discussion—patients have the right to know about cell salvage, tranexamic acid, and other options even if transfusion is ultimately necessary. 1, 4