Editing Reduction of Risk Potential (section)

=== Blood Transfusion Complications ===

Verify the product and client with two qualified persons per policy, use normal saline as the only compatible solution, use appropriate filtered tubing, start slowly, and '''remain with the client for the first 15 minutes''', when most severe reactions begin. If any reaction is suspected: '''stop the transfusion immediately''', keep the vein open with normal saline using '''new tubing''' so no additional blood enters, assess vital signs, notify the provider and the blood bank, and return the blood product and tubing per policy (Ignatavicius et al., 2021; Potter et al., 2023).

* '''Acute hemolytic reaction''' (ABO incompatibility): fever, chills, low back or flank pain, hypotension, dark or red urine, and a sense of impending doom. Life threatening (Ignatavicius et al., 2021).
* '''Febrile nonhemolytic reaction''': the most common reaction, presenting with fever and chills.
* '''Allergic reaction''': urticaria and pruritus, ranging to anaphylaxis with wheezing and hypotension.
* '''Transfusion-associated circulatory overload''': dyspnea, crackles, hypertension, and jugular venous distension, especially in older adults and in heart failure.
* '''Transfusion-related acute lung injury''': acute hypoxemia with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and no evidence of volume overload (Harding et al., 2023).