RISK OF COMPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO BLOOD DONATION

1
RISK OF COMPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO BLOOD
DONATION

• B. Aagaard, B. Samuelsen, J. Jorgensen, K.
  Titlestad, and S.P. Johnsen.
• Blood Transfusion Centre, Dept. of Clinical
  Immunology and Dept. of Clinical Epidemiology
  Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

2
DATA

• A standardized form was filled in, when blood
  donors developed symptoms at the time of or after
  blood donation.
• The form was sent to the central organization of
  Blood Donors in Denmark (BiD). These reports are
  the basis for the analysis.

3
COMPLICATIONS divided into two groups

• 1) Needle injuries included haematoma
• pain
• paresthesia
• 2) Vasovagal reactions included discomfort
• syncope
• seizure
• Few complications (poorly described or
  unclassified) were excluded
• 9 per 578 (1997-2002)

4
OCCURRENCENo. of
complications per 100,000 donations
5
OCCURRENCE of complications

• Conclusion
• ? The number of needle injuries has increased
  from 13 to 29/100,000 donations, resulting in a
  corresponding raise in the total number of
  reported complications
• ? most likely, the increase is a result of
  enhanced attention among staff as well as donors.

6
Severe complications
(SC) Symptoms lasting ? 12 months
7
SC - in relation to age RC reported
complications
8
SC and disablement

• Conclusion
• ? The number of SC increased steadily with age
  from
• 5 19 of total reported complications same
  group of age.
• ? The risk of disablement, for donors with a
  complication, increased with age.
• ? Needle injury is the event most likely to
  cause severe complications and disablement.

9
Summary

• Occurrence ? disablement 3 per year
• ? SC 10
• ? needle injuries 51
• ? donations 367,000
• as a mean from 1997 - 2001

10
Conclusion of analysis

• ? The risk of complication related to bleeding
  of donor was low. Nevertheless, for donors
  suffering prolonged and life lasting symptoms
  still unacceptable.
• ? Roughly, SC in blood donation correlates to
  the risk of serious complications for the
  patient in blood transfusion!
• (Taaning, E. and Jorgensen, J., p 24.14, ISBT
  2004)

11
Conclusion of analysis

• ? SC were most often developed after needle
  injuries.
• ? Efforts have been made to reduce their
  occurrence
• ? Change in needle insertion technique
• ? Intensive treatment of needle injuries

12
Conclusion of analysis

• Severe complications
• ? related to donation 3/100,000 donations
• ? related to transfusion 4/100,000 components
• The risk of severe complications is the same for
  blood donors and transfused patients!
• (Taaning, E. and Jorgensen, J., p 24.14, ISBT
  2004)