Transfusion Therapy: Administration of Red Cells to Adult Patients

Details

Title

Transfusion Therapy: Administration of Red Cells to Adult Patients

Type

Stage One

Module code

HLS054

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period with respect to administration of red cells to adult patients, the trainee will be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, critically evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform and master a range of technical procedures and demonstrate a range of clinical skills
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• BCSH guidelines relevant to red cell transfusion in adults
• clinical indications for red cell transfusion
• special requirements, including irradiation and CMV-negative red cells blood
• transfusion protocols in major haemorrhage and trauma
• selection of red cell components for patient with:
  • antibodies to high prevalence or low prevalence red cell antigens
  • a history of haemolytic transfusion reaction or hyper-haemolysis
  • autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
  • a haemoglobinopathy
  • a coagulation disorder
  • an increased risk of alloimmunisation
• the effective storage, tracking and management of blood stocks

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills and will be able to:

• critically evaluate the benefits and risks of administering red cells in different clinical settings
• identify, assess and critically appraise relevant clinical and laboratory factors in order to select red cell units for patients with different clinical conditions including:
  • patients with a high risk of alloimmunisation due to long-term dependence on transfusion therapy
  • patients with existing antibodies to high prevalence and low prevalence antigens
  • patients with red cell antibodies including multiple antibodies
  • major haemorrhage and trauma
  • patients with a haemolytic transfusion reaction or hyper-haemolysis
  • autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
  • haemoglobinopathies
  • coagulation disorders
• critically evaluate the evidence that underpins the effective management of blood stocks, minimising wastage and optimising the availability of red cells units of different blood groups

By the end of the training period with respect to the administration of red cells to adult patients, trainees will, be able to perform a range of clinical skills and will be able to:

• advise clinical colleagues on the transfusion requirements of patients with a wide range of clinical conditions, including where it is appropriate to use red cells which have been further selected or processed (e.g. CMV-negative or irradiated)
• advise, in collaboration with clinical and laboratory colleagues, on action to be taken when the need for transfusion is urgent
• advise on the transfusion requirements of patients to whom sensitization to red cell antibodies presents a clinical risk (e.g. women of child -bearing potential, sickle cell disease patients)
• interpret complex red cell antibody investigations to determine the antigen status of suitable units
• operate procedures to obtain blood donations with rare blood groups
• advise on the provision of suitable blood components where the ideal match is not possible, in emergency and routine situations to ensure patient safety