Unplanned and Emergency Transfusion

During your stay at Burnside Hospital, you required the unplanned or emergency transfusion of blood and / or blood products because you lost a large volume of blood. This is different to receiving a planned blood transfusion due to the urgency of the situation.

• Unanticipated bleeding or haemorrhage can occur in surgical, medical, obstetric, or trauma patients and may require the administration of large volumes of blood components and products. The management of haemorrhage can be clinically complex
• Critical bleeding results in decreased circulating volume, loss of oxygen-carrying capacity, and may result in coagulopathy (impaired clot formation)
• Major haemorrhage that is life-threatening is likely to result in the need for massive transfusion

Here is a summary of the blood components you received and a brief explanation of what they do in your body.

Why did I have to have an unplanned or emergency transfusion?

Please ask your specialist to tell you more about what led you to receive a massive transfusion.

What are the risks of blood transfusion?

Australia has one of the safest blood supplies in the world but as with all medical procedures, a blood transfusion is not free from risk.

The most common risks of transfusion include:

• Fever, chills, hives , or cold clammy skin
• Breathing difficulty, wheezing, cough
• Nausea, vomiting or abdominal cramps
• Diarrhoea
• Rash
• Dizziness
• Chest or back pain
• Fast heartbeat
• Hypothermia
• Receiving blood that is not ‘matched’ to you
• Severe reactions, for example, allergy or acute lung injury
• Transmission of infection, for example, bacteria or viruses. Staff are trained to watch closely for reactions and to respond quickly
• Low calcium/magnesium
• High potassium

Are there any ongoing side effects I should know about?

There is a chance that your body may have made some new antibodies. Antibodies are important part of our immune system that help to protect against foreign things such as bacteria and viruses. 

New antibodies can be formed in response to receiving donated blood. If you ever need another blood transfusion, a blood sample will be taken from you to make sure the blood you receive is compatible with these antibodies, so you do not have a reaction.

What if I have developed new antibodies?

Having antibodies does not affect your general health. They become important if you were to become pregnant or need a blood transfusion. Let your doctor/ anaesthetist know before any future surgery, this will help to organise suitable blood for you if needed.

What does this mean for you future health care?

If asked by a health professional or someone taking your blood, you must answer yes when asked if you have had a blood transfusion before and if possible, tell them the date. This also includes any time you are considering being a blood donor.

Keeping a transfusion record

It’s important to record that you have received a blood product and if you had a reaction to it. You'll be asked next time you go to hospital. Keep it with any other medical details, like your medication list and other medical details. You will receive the Burnside Hospital Unplanned and Emergency Transfusion patient information where you can document this information for future reference.