Listeners Questions Episode on Blood Administration

Red Cell Transfusions: To Pump Or Not To Pump? Although not worldwide just yet, veterinary practices are increasingly able to give red cell transfusions. But how should you do this – with or without an infusion device? In this episode I address this listener’s question: “What are your thoughts about using IVF pumps to administer blood products? The hospital I work at currently will not use fluid pumps, but instead calculates drops/second because they feel the pumps will cause cell lysis.” Papers discussed in this episode are: McDevitt RI, Ruaux CG, Baltzer WI. Influence of transfusion technique on survival of autologous red blood cells in the dog. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2011. 21(3) 2011, pp 209–216. Heikes BW, Ruaux CG. Effect of syringe and aggregate filter administration on survival of transfused autologous fresh feline red blood cells. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2014. 24(2):162–167. For SHOW NOTES of this episode see HERE.   Click Here For Your FREE Copy of a Transcript of This Episode