Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury--does the anesthesiologist need to worry about this?

Goldsmith WW, Pandharipande PP

Division of Critical Care and Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. wmgoldsmith@yahoo.com

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a complication associated with blood product administration. Although it is well described in the critical care and hematology literature, there is a paucity of information found in the anesthesiology literature. Because most transfusions are administered in the surgical arena, it is important that anesthesiologists be aware of TRALI and its clinical implications. We present a case of TRALI in a 55-year-old man who received a single unit of packed red blood cells during a single-level lumbar laminectomy. We also review the etiology, pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria of TRALI.

Published 16 August 2005 in J Clin Anesth, 17(5): 366-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Blood Transfusion Research Today. All Rights Reserved.