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Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) | VETgirl Veterinary CE Podcasts

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI). In veterinary medicine, the use of transfusions has become more prevalent, particularly in the field of emergency and critical care. Transfusion medicine is important to help improve oxygen delivery, provide coagulation factors, and provide hemoglobin. That said, the benefits of transfusions must outweigh the risks – albeit rare – from the product itself.

In veterinary medicine, the risk of transfusion reaction is estimated to be less  than 1%; thankfully, most of the reactions are easy to treat and relatively uncommon. Vomiting, fever, urticaria, and hemolysis are the most common reactions clinically seen, and can often be treated by slowing the transfusion, or by treating with steroids (e.g., dexamethasone) or antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine). Recently, more serious complications such as acute dyspnea and acute lung injury (ALI) has been identified in human medicine post-transfusion. While the occurrence of this syndrome of “transfusion-related acute lung injury” (TRALI) has not been well described in veterinary medicine, it is likely under-recognized in our patient population.

In this podcast, we review what ALI and TRALI are, and what rare adverse effects we should be aware of that are associated with transfusions.

 

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