Respiratory alterations related to blood transfusions in critically ill patients in the Intensive and Special Care Units of the Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín.2008-2009

Abstract

Objective: respiratory alterations related to blood transfusions have an increasing incidence and they are the leading cause of death related to blood transfusions. Critically ill patients, for their medical condition, are exposed to an increased risk for these complications; it intends to describe the incidence of these disorders and the impact on patient outcomes.

Methods: an observational and descriptive study was conducted with 32 critically ill patients at the intensive and special care units in the Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, between October 2008 and October 2009 who received blood transfusion and suffered from respiratory changes during this time.

Results: During the time of data collection, 996 blood units were transfused, of these, 32 met at least one of the criteria for an alteration in the respiratory function associated with transfusions, being more frequent in men (59 .3%), the most prevalent diagnostic criterion was the increase in respiratory rate(100%). Among the most important risk factors, the presence of massive transfusions (31%) was first, being matched by digestive tract bleeding, in frecuency order it was followed by the presence of sepsis(18%) and major surgery(12.5%), the other associated entities did not have a significant percentage.

Conclusions: The respiratory disturbances associated with transfusions in the intensive care unit are uncommon, however politransfused patients with digestive tract hemorrhage, sepsis and postoperative major surgery have a higher prevalence.