Transfusion-related acute lung injury: three decades of progress but miles to go before we sleep

Blood Transfusion Errors Within a Health System: A Review of Root Cause Analyses

Introduction: Blood transfusions are lifesaving treatments which require critical attention to processes and details. If processes are not followed, grievous errors can lead to sentinel events. A review of investigations completed due to reported events will show the error trends associated with systems used throughout the blood transfusion process. Methods: This study employed root cause analyses (RCAs) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to review the events leading to blood transfusion errors. Data was pulled from the RCA databases within the VA National Center for Patient Safety. The time frame was October 2014 to August 2019. A total of 53 RCAs and aggregated reviews were included in the study. These were reviewed for common themes and gaps present within processes. Results: The most common events fell within the categories of incorrect or delayed blood orders, incorrect or lack of patient identification, and wrong blood given. The RCA for each event was reviewed and studied. The RCAs had a crossover of multiple causes; lack of a formal process, communication barriers, and technology barriers were the most frequent. Conclusion: These RCAs express great variation between VHA facilities, such as process created, number of staff reports, and number of RCAs completed. Lack of standard practices nationwide, training barriers, and technology barriers may explain the variation of transfusion errors throughout the VHA. This study brings to light questions about standardization of transfusion protocols. Future study regarding such standardization is necessary to determine its plausibility.

Platelet extracellular vesicles mediate transfusion-related acute lung injury by imbalancing the sphingolipid rheostat

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a hazardous transfusion complication with an associated mortality of 5% to 15%. We previously showed that stored (5 days) but not fresh platelets (1 day) cause TRALI via ceramide-mediated endothelial barrier dysfunction. As biological ceramides are hydrophobic, extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be required to shuttle these sphingolipids from platelets to endothelial cells. Adding to complexity, EV formation in turn requires ceramide. We hypothesized that ceramide-dependent EV formation from stored platelets and EV-dependent sphingolipid shuttling induces TRALI. EVs formed during storage of murine platelets were enumerated, characterized for sphingolipids, and applied in a murine TRALI model in vivo and for endothelial barrier assessment in vitro. Five-day EVs were more abundant, had higher long-chain ceramide (C16:0, C18:0, C20:0), and lower sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) content than 1-day EVs. Transfusion of 5-day, but not 1-day, EVs induced characteristic signs of lung injury in vivo and endothelial barrier disruption in vitro. Inhibition or supplementation of ceramide-forming sphingomyelinase reduced or enhanced the formation of EVs, respectively, but did not alter the injuriousness per individual EV. Barrier failure was attenuated when EVs were abundant in or supplemented with S1P. Stored human platelet 4-day EVs were more numerous compared with 2-day EVs, contained more long-chain ceramide and less S1P, and caused more endothelial cell barrier leak. Hence, platelet-derived EVs become more numerous and more injurious (more long-chain ceramide, less S1P) during storage. Blockade of sphingomyelinase, EV elimination, or supplementation of S1P during platelet storage may present promising strategies for TRALI prevention.

Neutrophil Adaptations upon Recruitment to the Lung: New Concepts and Implications for Homeostasis and Disease

Neutrophils have a prominent role in all human immune responses against any type of pathogen or stimulus. The lungs are a major neutrophil reservoir and neutrophilic inflammation is a primary response to both infectious and non-infectious challenges. While neutrophils are well known for their essential role in clearance of bacteria, they are also equipped with specific mechanisms to counter viruses and fungi. When these defense mechanisms become aberrantly activated in the absence of infection, this commonly results in debilitating chronic lung inflammation. Clearance of bacteria by phagocytosis is the hallmark role of neutrophils and has been studied extensively. New studies on neutrophil biology have revealed that this leukocyte subset is highly adaptable and fulfills diverse roles. Of special interest is how these adaptations can impact the outcome of an immune response in the lungs due to their potent capacity for clearing infection and causing damage to host tissue. The adaptability of neutrophils and their propensity to influence the outcome of immune responses implicates them as a much-needed target of future immunomodulatory therapies. This review highlights the recent advances elucidating the mechanisms of neutrophilic inflammation, with a focus on the lung environment due to the immense and growing public health burden of chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute lung inflammatory diseases such as transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI).

Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury due to Iatrogenic IVIG Overdose in Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a transfusion-related adverse effect associated with high mortality, manifesting with acute respiratory distress and with features of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. It is rarely reported following intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion and is even rarer in pediatric population. We here present a 12-year-old female child who presented as a case of acute flaccid paralysis and was diagnosed clinically as Guillain-Barre syndrome. As per protocol, she was given IVIG for 4 of the 5 days therapy at the dose of 0.4mg/kg/day before the patient went to another hospital. Subsequently in the next 1 week, she received two more courses of IVIG in two different hospitals following which she developed respiratory distress and was again admitted in our hospital. A diagnosis of TRALI was leveled on clinical ground because of IVIG overdose. Patient subsequently improved on high-flow oxygen therapy and conservative management. This unfortunate case of iatrogenic IVIG overdose just reinforces the fact of proper documentation of treatment to avoid such mishap and also prompt diagnosis and management of this least recognized entity of TRALI.

Transfusion-related acute hepatic injury following postoperative platelets administration in pediatric patients undergoing the Fontan procedure

OBJECTIVE

The final common pathway of single ventricle patients is the Fontan procedure. Among the immediate postoperative complications is acute hepatic injury presented by marked elevation of liver enzymes (alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]). We aimed to determine the contribution of blood products transfusion to acute hepatic injury.

DESIGN

Single center retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at a tertiary medical center.

PATIENTS

Ninety-nine pediatric patients undergoing the Fontan procedure between January 2009 and December 2016.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Out of the four types of blood products, transfusion of platelets was found to significantly affect postoperative levels of ALT and AST. Additional factors included postoperative administration of sodium bicarbonate, decreased flow through the Fontan canal and decreased urine output. Preoperative pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, amount of postoperative bleeding, and vasoactive-inotropic score did not influence liver enzymes levels CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric Fontan patients, platelets transfusions contribute to an acute hepatic injury. The relation between platelets and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) has been well described, but this is the first time it is being described in regard to acute hepatic injury (TRAHI). Changing platelet transfusion strategy could decrease morbidity in Fontan patients but further research is needed.

Defining Usage and Clinical Outcomes Following Perioperative Fresh Frozen Plasma and Platelet Administration in Spine Surgery Patients

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this study were to characterize the utilization of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and platelets in spine surgery and the clinical outcomes following their administration.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Blood component transfusion is often a crucial therapy during spine surgery. Little is known about the association between transfusion with FFP and/or platelets and perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing spine surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

At a single large tertiary medical center, the surgical billing database was retrospectively queried for patients undergoing spinal surgery from 2008 to 2015. A univariate analysis compared patient characteristics for those who received FFP and/or platelets perioperatively and those who did not. To determine independent predictors of FFP and platelet administration and independent predictors of perioperative complications, both univariate and multivariate analyses were used.

RESULTS

In total, 6931 patients met inclusion criteria. One thousand seven (14.5%) patients received perioperative FFP transfusion and 432 (6.2%) received platelets. In multivariate analysis, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥4, preoperative hemoglobin <12 g/dL, preoperative international normalized ratio (INR) ≥1.7, higher estimated blood loss, and receipt of packed red blood cell or platelet transfusion were associated with perioperative FFP administration (all P≤0.001). More than half of all patients received FFP with an INR trigger of <1.7. Those who received perioperative FFP were more likely to experience infection, increased length of stay, and ischemic, respiratory, thrombotic, and renal complications (all P<0.0001). Perioperative FFP [odds ratio (OR): 2.43], platelet transfusion (OR: 1.81), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 3 or 4 (OR: 1.84), CCI≥4 (OR: 1.75), and receipt of packed red blood cells (OR: 1.73) were independent predictors of experiencing any complication (all P≤0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients were given FFP with a liberal INR trigger of >1.7. Perioperative FFP and platelet administration are independent predictors of perioperative complications following spine surgery.

Hypoplastic thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusion: therapeutic goals

Platelet transfusions consist a major part of the management of hypoplastic thrombocytopenia, the latter occurring mainly among patients with hematological malignancies. Platelet transfusions have led to a reduction of deaths attributable to thrombocytopenia-induced bleeding, despite their possible complications; nonetheless, prophylactic administration of platelets to patients with severe thrombocytopenia or before invasive procedures should be based on specific criteria, as well as therapeutic administration during active bleeding. Recently developed ex-vivo procedures have resulted in producing safer blood products, yet it remains unclear whether these pathogen-inactivated products have sufficient efficacy. What is more, another significant problem that remains to be more effectively addressed is the developing refractoriness to platelet transfusions.

Percentage change in hemoglobin level and morbidity in spine surgery patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to characterize the association between percentage change in hemoglobin (ΔHb)—i.e., the difference between preoperative Hb and in-hospital nadir Hb concentration—and perioperative adverse events among spine surgery patients.

METHODS

Patients who underwent spine surgery at the authors’ institution between December 4, 2008, and June 26, 2015, were eligible for this retrospective study. Patients who underwent the following procedures were included: atlantoaxial fusion, subaxial anterior cervical fusion, subaxial posterior cervical fusion, anterior lumbar fusion, posterior lumbar fusion, lateral lumbar fusion, excision of intervertebral disc, and excision of spinal cord lesion. Data on intraoperative transfusion were obtained from an automated, prospectively collected, anesthesia data management system. Data on postoperative hospital transfusions were obtained through an Internet-based intelligence portal. Percentage ΔHb was defined as: ([preoperative Hb − nadir Hb]/preoperative Hb) × 100. Clinical outcomes included in-hospital morbidity and length of stay associated with percentage ΔHb.

RESULTS

A total of 3949 patients who underwent spine surgery were identified. Of these, 1204 patients (30.5%) received at least 1 unit of packed red blood cells. The median nadir Hb level was 10.6 g/dl (interquartile range 8.7–12.4 g/dl), yielding a mean percentage ΔHb of 23.6% (SD 15.4%). Perioperative complications occurred in 234 patients (5.9%) and were more common in patients with a larger percentage ΔHb (p = 0.017). Hospital-related infection, which occurred in 60 patients (1.5%), was also more common in patients with greater percentage ΔHb (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Percentage ΔHb is independently associated with a higher risk of developing any perioperative complication and hospital-related infection. The authors’ results suggest that percentage ΔHb may be a useful measure for identifying patients at risk for adverse perioperative events.

Effect of liberal blood transfusion on clinical outcomes and cost in spine surgery patients

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Blood transfusions in spine surgery are shown to be associated with increased patient morbidity. The association between transfusion performed using a liberal hemoglobin (Hb) trigger-defined as an intraoperative Hb level of ≥10 g/dL, a postoperative level of ≥8 g/dL, or a whole hospital nadir between 8 and 10 g/dL-and perioperative morbidity and cost in spine surgery patients is unknown and thus was investigated in this study.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to describe the perioperative outcomes and economic cost associated with liberal Hb trigger transfusion among spine surgery patients.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

This is a retrospective study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

The surgical billing database at our institution was queried for inpatients discharged between 2008 and 2015 after the following procedures: atlantoaxial fusion, anterior cervical fusion, posterior cervical fusion, anterior lumbar fusion, posterior lumbar fusion, lateral lumbar fusion, other procedures, and tumor-related surgeries. In total, 6,931 patients were included for analysis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was composite morbidity, which was composed of (1) infection (sepsis, surgical-site infection, Clostridium difficile infection, or drug-resistant infection); (2) thrombotic event (pulmonary embolus, deep venous thrombosis, or disseminated intravascular coagulation); (3) kidney injury; (4) respiratory event; and (5) ischemic event (transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular accident).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data on intraoperative transfusion were obtained from an automated, prospectively collected anesthesia data management system. Data on postoperative hospital transfusion were obtained through a Web-based intelligence portal. Based on previous research, we analyzed the data using three definitions of a liberal transfusion trigger in patients who underwent red blood cell transfusion: a liberal intraoperative Hb trigger as a nadir Hb level of 10 g/dL or greater, a liberal postoperative Hb trigger as a nadir Hb level of 8 g/dL or greater, or a whole hospital nadir Hb level of 8-10 g/dL. Variables analyzed included in-hospital morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and total costs associated with a liberal transfusion strategy.

RESULTS

Among patients with a whole hospital stay nadir Hb between 8 and 10 g/dL, transfused patients demonstrated a longer in-hospital stay (median [interquartile range], 6 [5-9] vs. 4 [3-6] days; p<.0001) and a higher perioperative morbidity (n=145 [11.5%] vs. n=74 [6.1%], p<.0001) than those not transfused. Even after adjusting for age, gender, race, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, estimated blood loss, baseline Hb value, and surgery type, logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with a nadir Hb of 8-10 g/dL who were transfused had an independently higher risk of perioperative morbidity (odds ratio=2.11, 95% confidence interval, 1.44-3.09; p<.0001). Estimated additional costs associated with liberal trigger use, defined as a transfusion occurring in patients with a whole hospital stay nadir Hb of 8-10 g/dL, ranged from $202,675 to $700,151 annually.

CONCLUSIONS

Transfusion using a liberal trigger is associated with increased morbidity, even after controlling for possible confounders. Our results suggest that modification of transfusion practice may be a potential area for improving patient outcomes and reducing costs.

Rare antibody-associated hemolytic transfusion reaction and transfusion-related acute lung injury: a case report

BACKGROUND

Hemolytic transfusion reactions and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) are life-threatening complications associated with the transfusion of blood products. Hemorrhage is one of the most common surgical complications and the risk of bleeding is particularly acute in patients with hematologic deficiencies. Management of surgical bleeding can be divided into two phases. The first phase centers on immediate control of acute bleeding and the second phase focuses on keeping the patient stable and on reducing the sequelae associated with blood transfusions and blood loss.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 53-year-old woman with long-standing immune thrombocytopenia who underwent repair of a symptomatic ventral hernia. On post-operative day one the patient developed hemoperitoneum, requiring exploratory laparotomy and massive transfusion of blood products. The patient's recovery was complicated by consistently low hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets, prompting frequent transfusion of additional blood products. Shortly after activation of the massive transfusion protocol, the patient developed TRALI. Compounding the situation, on post-operative day sixteen the patient's serum started to show hemolysis: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels rose to 1,845 IU/L, with haptoglobin at less than 5.8 mg/dL and with a high reticulocyte count (4.38%). Previous testing had shown that the patient was positive for most major antigens implicated in antibody formation and was only producing anti-E and anti-K antibodies (considered for all transfusions). Initial pre- and post-transfusion direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) were indeed negative. However, repeat DATs in the days following the noted serum changes were consistent with new allo-antibody formation. These findings prompted immediate withholding of all blood products and a thorough blood bank work up. Despite strong evidence for new allo-antibody formation, no specific known antibody could be identified. The patient recover well when blood products were withheld.

DISCUSSION

We present the case of a 53-year-old woman with long-standing immune thrombocytopenia who underwent repair of a symptomatic ventral hernia. On post-operative day one the patient developed hemoperitoneum, requiring exploratory laparotomy and massive transfusion of blood products. The patient's recovery was complicated by consistently low hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets, prompting frequent transfusion of additional blood products. Shortly after activation of the massive transfusion protocol, the patient developed TRALI. Compounding the situation, on post-operative day sixteen the patient's serum started to show hemolysis: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels rose to 1,845 IU/L, with haptoglobin at less than 5.8 mg/dL and with a high reticulocyte count (4.38%). Previous testing had shown that the patient was positive for most major antigens implicated in antibody formation and was only producing anti-E and anti-K antibodies (considered for all transfusions). Initial pre- and post-transfusion direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) were indeed negative. However, repeat DATs in the days following the noted serum changes were consistent with new allo-antibody formation. These findings prompted immediate withholding of all blood products and a thorough blood bank work up. Despite strong evidence for new allo-antibody formation, no specific known antibody could be identified. The patient recover well when blood products were withheld. Suspicion for hemolytic transfusion reactions should be high in patients with prior allo-antibody formation; these may present as acute hemolysis or as a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction. Withholding blood products from these patients until compatible products have been identified is recommended. Moreover, TRALI is the leading cause of transfusion-related fatalities and should always be considered in transfusion settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Suspicion for hemolytic transfusion reactions should be high in patients with prior allo-antibody formation; these may present as acute hemolysis or as a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction. Withholding blood products from these patients until compatible products have been identified is recommended. Moreover, TRALI is the leading cause of transfusion-related fatalities and should always be considered in transfusion settings.