This guideline applies to all blood products

PROSPECTIVE CONSENT

  • Before gaining consent, inform patient:
    • reason for transfusion
    • risks and benefits
    • possible alternatives
    • how the transfusion will be administered
    • that following transfusion, they cannot donate blood
  • If possible, provide written information
  • Record discussion fully in patient’s medical record
  • When seen for follow-up, or writing to them, re-inform patients they cannot donate blood

RETROSPECTIVE INFORMATION

  • In an emergency, it may not be possible to obtain valid consent. Discussion may be retrospective
    • note specific guidance related to advance directives
  • If patients told pre-procedure (e.g. pre-operatively) they might require a transfusion, inform them post-procedure whether they did/did not receive a transfusion
  • Note that trauma transfer patients may have had blood products at another hospital or during transfer from scene of accident

LONG-TERM TRANSFUSION-DEPENDENT PATIENTS

  • Modified consent is required. Discuss at the start of the transfusion regimen followed by regular updates including benefits, risks and specific issues e.g.
    • iron overload
    • risk of allo-immunisation including haemolysis risks (red cells) and platelet refractoriness (HLA antibodies)
    • infective risks and other reactions

DISCHARGE

  • Ensure patient is aware they have received a transfusion
  • Record transfusion information in discharge summary

© 2022 The Bedside Clinical Guidelines Partnership.

Created by University Hospital North Midlands and Keele University School of Computing and Mathematics.

Research and development team: James Mitchell, Ed de Quincey, Charles Pantin, Naveed Mustfa