Risks in Perspective
Risks in PerspectiveThe risks of transfusion transmitted infection with virus is very small compared to risks of everyday living: chance of being killed in a road accident is about 1 in 10,000.
- The most common types of reactions are not serious and include for example headache, mild fever, itching and hives.
- ABO incompatibility remains one of the most common fatal complications of blood transfusion and most are due to avoidable errors (such as patient / sample identification errors).
Other serious risks associated with transfusion – based on overseas estimates – are outlined below (Degree of recognition/reporting of events results in variable incidences. Many are underestimated).
|
Bacterial sepsis (platelets)
| 1: 100,000
|
Haemolytic reactions:
Acute
Delayed
|
1: 12,000 to 77,000
1: 4,000 to 9,000 |
Anaphylaxis – IgA deficiency
| 1: 20,000 to 170,0000
|
Fluid overload/cardiac failure
| Up to 1% of patients receiving transfusions
|
TRALI
| 1: 5,000 to 10,000
|
Transfusion associated graft vs host disease
| Rare |
Reference: ARCBS Blood Component Information Booklet 2007.
|
| Negligible | <1,000,000 e.g. death from a lightning strike
|
Minimal
| 1:100,000 – 1:1,000,000 e.g. death from a train accident
|
Very low
| 1:10,000 – 1:100,000 e.g. death from an accident at work
|
| Low | 1:1000 – 1:10,000 e.g. death from a road accident
|
High
| >1000 e.g. transmission of chickenpox to susceptible household contacts |
If you are thinking of transfusing your patient then see also the section on Informed Consent.