Transfusion associated circulatory overload
Encyclopedia
In transfusion medicine
, Transfusion associated circulatory overload (known as TACO) is a blood transfusion
condition that occurs due to a rapid transfusion of a large volume of blood.
, orthopnea, peripheral edema
, and rapid increase of blood pressure
.
.
(TRALI) in part by having longer hospital stays and increased morbidity.
The hypotension seen with TRALI and the hypertension seen with TACO provides a clinical differentiation of the two.
Transfusion medicine
Transfusion medicine is the branch of medicine that is concerned with the transfusion of blood and blood components. The blood bank is the section of the clinical laboratory where medical technologists process and distribute blood products under the supervision of a medical director, often...
, Transfusion associated circulatory overload (known as TACO) is a blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
condition that occurs due to a rapid transfusion of a large volume of blood.
Symptoms
The primary symptoms of TACO are dyspneaDyspnea
Dyspnea , shortness of breath , or air hunger, is the subjective symptom of breathlessness.It is a normal symptom of heavy exertion but becomes pathological if it occurs in unexpected situations...
, orthopnea, peripheral edema
Edema
Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...
, and rapid increase of blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
.
Occurrence
It is difficult to determine the incidence of TACO, but its incidence is estimated at about one in every 100 to 10,000 transfusions. The risk increases with patients over the age of 60 and patients with cardiac or pulmonary failure, or anemiaAnemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
.
Prevention
Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload is easily prevented by closely monitoring patients receiving transfusions and transfusing smaller volumes of blood at a slower rate.Differentiation from TRALI
While both are related to transfusion medicine and both are important, TACO differs from Transfusion related acute lung injuryTransfusion related acute lung injury
In medicine, transfusion related acute lung injury is a serious blood transfusion complication characterized by the acute onset of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema following transfusion of blood products....
(TRALI) in part by having longer hospital stays and increased morbidity.
The hypotension seen with TRALI and the hypertension seen with TACO provides a clinical differentiation of the two.