Table 8.
Complications related to blood transfusion.
| Variable | Frequency | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| What interventions could minimize the risk of the patient experiencing acute transfusion reaction? (four answers required) | ||
| Administration of blood that is compatible with that of the recipient | ||
| Yes | 251 | 89.96 |
| No | 28 | 10.04 |
| Starting the transfusion within 20 minutes after collection from the blood bank | ||
| Yes | 46 | 16.49 |
| No | 233 | 83.51 |
| Administering a unit of blood to the patient within 4 hours after collection | ||
| Yes | 133 | 47.67 |
| No | 146 | 52.32 |
| Taking the history from the patient | ||
| Yes | 21 | 7.53 |
| No | 258 | 92.47 |
| Not transfusing drugs or solutions that are incompatible with blood | ||
| Yes | 131 | 46.95 |
| No | 148 | 53.05 |
| Stopping blood if there are signs and symptoms of the transfusion reaction | ||
| Yes | 58 | 20.79 |
| No | 221 | 79.21 |
| Correct score | 1 | 0.36 |
| Wrong score | 278 | 99.64 |
|
| ||
| What signs and symptoms indicate that the patient is developing an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction? | ||
| Tachycardia | ||
| Yes | 210 | 75.27 |
| No | 69 | 24.73 |
| Productive cough | ||
| Yes | 30 | 10.75 |
| No | 249 | 89.25 |
| Chest pain | ||
| Yes | 167 | 59.86 |
| No | 112 | 40.14 |
| Bradycardia | ||
| Yes | 71 | 25.45 |
| No | 208 | 74.55 |
| Hypotension | ||
| Yes | 153 | 54.84 |
| No | 126 | 45.16 |
| Shallow respiration | ||
| Yes | 137 | 49.10 |
| No | 142 | 50.90 |
| Nausea/vomiting | ||
| Yes | 120 | 43.01 |
| No | 159 | 56.99 |
| Neck pain | ||
| Yes | 30 | 10.75 |
| No | 249 | 89.25 |
| Correct score | 21 | 7.53 |
| Wrong score | 258 | 92.47 |
|
| ||
| What should be done immediately when signs and symptoms of the acute haemolytic transfusion reaction are seen? | ||
| Stop blood transfusion | ||
| Yes | 239 | 85.66 |
| No | 40 | 14.34 |
| Inform the nursing supervisor | ||
| Yes | 1 | 0.36 |
| No | 278 | 99.64 |
| Check the patient's vital signs | ||
| Yes | 21 | 7.53 |
| No | 258 | 92.47 |
| Notify the doctor and begin emergency treatment according to the medical order | ||
| Yes | 8 | 2.87 |
| No | 271 | 97.13 |
|
| ||
| What is the commonest cause of the most fatal transfusion reactions? | ||
| Warming blood to more than 37°C | 9 | 3.45 |
| Error in blood bank testing | 94 | 36.02 |
| Antibodies in the Rh system | 78 | 29.02 |
| Identification error of the patient | 80 | 30.65 |
|
| ||
| What is the first action that the nurse should take to handle a patient with mild allergic transfusion reaction? | ||
| Stop the transfusion and notify the doctor | 239 | 88.85 |
| Notify the doctor and slow the transfusion rate | 2 | 0.74 |
| Slow the transfusion rate and notify the doctor | 6 | 2.23 |
| Check the patient's vital signs | 21 | 7.81 |
| Notify the senior nurse | 2 | 0.37 |