Acute complications/incidents may occur during blood product infusion. Before starting any transfusion assure that there is a blood consent form in the patient's chart (except in emergency situations). Blood products should not be ordered from the blood bank until the blood consent has been obtained. Acute complications/incidents that may occur include hemolytic reactions, allergic or febrile reactions, and fluid overload. Hemolytic transfusion reactions are caused by blood type or Rh incompatibility. When blood containing antibodies against the recipient’s blood is infused, the antigen-antibody complexes formed can destroy transfused cells and initiate inflammatory reactions in blood vessel walls and organs. The ensuing blood transfusion reaction may be mild, with fever and chills, or severe, with circulatory collapse and shock.

UCSF Medical Center - Special Procedures: Blood Transfusion Reactions - 1 -