Korean J Blood Transfus.  2018 Apr;29(1):73-78. 10.17945/kjbt.2018.29.1.73.

Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction due to ABO-Incompatible Blood Transfusion: A Fatal Case Report and Review of the Literature

• Lim HH
• Kim KH
• An GD
• Jeong IH
• Son YK

• KMID: 2435714
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17945/kjbt.2018.29.1.73

Abstract

A 77-year-old female patient who was suspected to have had an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction was admitted to the emergency room. She received one unit of type A red blood cells in a type B patient during a total knee arthroplasty operation at another medical institution. ABO-incompatible transfusion was carried out due to an identification error between the patient and blood product. At the time of admission, acute hemolytic reaction, lactic acidosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation were observed. She was admitted to the intensive care unit and received continuous renal replacement therapy. She maintained renal function and was moved to the general ward on the 7th day. Complications such as pulmonary edema, gastrointestinal bleeding, and ischemic colitis persisted, and the patient died on the 111th after admission. This case is the first report of death due to an ABO-incompatible transfusion in Korea. Efforts to establish a safe transfusion environment are necessary not only at individual medical institutions but also at the national level.

Keyword

ABO incompatible transfusion; Hemolytic transfusion reaction; Transfusion safety

MeSH Terms

Acidosis, Lactic
Aged
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee
Blood Transfusion*
Colitis, Ischemic
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Emergency Service, Hospital
Erythrocytes
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Korea
Patients' Rooms
Pulmonary Edema
Renal Replacement Therapy
Transfusion Reaction*