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Article: What every physician should know about transfusion reactions
- Article from:
- Canadian Medical Association. Journal
- Article date:
- July 17, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Canadian Medical Association Jul 17, 2007. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Blood transfusions can be lifesaving in the appropriate setting. The vast majority of transfusions are completed without incident, but every transfusion recipient is at risk of a variety of adverse events (termed transfusion reactions) that can occur during, shortly after or long after the transfusion. Most transfusion reactions are diagnosed by exclusion; thus, any significant change in a patient's condition during transfusion should prompt an investigation. Successful investigation of a transfusion reaction depends on detailed observation, documentation and reporting of the patient's vital signs, before and after the transfusion, and the signs and symptoms that prompted the investigation. ...