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Discharge Instructions for Blood Transfusion

A blood transfusion was done to replace blood cells or other blood products.

Steps to Take

Home Care

Reactions can show up a day or weeks later. Let your care team know if you have any problems.

Medications

Medicine can help to ease fever or pain.

If you are taking medicine:

  • Take medicine as directed. Do not change the amount or the schedule.
  • Be aware of the side effects of your medicine. Tell your doctor if you have any.
  • Medicine can be dangerous when mixed. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking more than one medicine. This includes over-the-counter products and supplements.

Follow-up

Your doctor may track your progress. You may need another transfusion or other treatment. It is important to go to all recommended appointments.

Tell your care providers you had a blood transfusion.

Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occur

Call your doctor if you have any problems such as:

  • New rash, hives, or itching
  • Lightheadedness
  • New or lasting fever
  • Feeling tired or weak
  • Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Pain—especially in the back or chest
  • Breathing problems
  • Signs of infection such as fever or chills
  • Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge where the needle was inserted

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Red Cross
https://www.redcross.ca

Public Health Agency of Canada
https://www.canada.ca

REFERENCES:

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bt/bt_whatis.html. Updated January 30, 2012. Accessed March 10, 2017.

Red blood cell transfusion. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T909621/Red-blood-cell-transfusion. Updated January 28, 2019. Accessed May 14, 2019.

Plasma transfusion. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T919142/Plasma-transfusion. Updated June 19, 2018. Accessed May 14, 2019.

Tissue/blood compatibility. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at:https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Updated August 24, 2018. Accessed May 14, 2019.

Last reviewed March 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD