Neil Blumberg: Why Washed Red Cell and Platelet Transfusions Deserve More Attention
Neil Blumberg, Professor, Director of Transfusion Medicine/Blood Bank at University of Rochester Medical Center, shared a post on LinkedIn, about a recent article he and his colleagues co-authored, published in Transfusion and Apheresis Science, adding:
“An underutilized and underappreciated modification of red cell and platelet transfusions, which mitigates almost all transfusion toxicity and improves clinical outcomes is washing with crystalloid.
This can be done manually or by automated methods.
The preferred crystalloid is Plasmalyte for red cells and platelet additive solution for platelets.
Washing away stored supernatant immediately prior to transfusion reduces inflammation, immunomodulation, febrile and allergic reactions, TACO, TRALI and hyperkalemia.
Randomized trials show improved survival in younger, lower risk acute leukemia patients and reduced inflammation in pediatric cardiac surgery as examples.
We’ve reviewed the literature on this uncommonly used approach to transfusion.”
Title: The case for washing red blood cells and platelets – A concise review of donors, processes, and products
Authors: Phuong-Lan Nguyen, Akua Asante, Majed Refaai, Deb Masel, Neil Blumberg
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