Nerve irritation, automated red cell donation

Status:

Ready to upload

Record number:

1527

Adverse Occurrence type:

Insertion of needle

MPHO Type:

Red blood cells

Estimated frequency:

0.001%

Time to detection:

immediate to delayed

Alerting signals, symptoms, evidence of occurrence:

None specified. Usual signs and symptoms (ISBT definitions) include: radiating, often 'electrical' sharp pain moving away from the venipuncture site, and/or paraesthesias such as tingling, burning sensations in the hand, wrist or shoulder area but away from the venipuncture site. Symptoms may arise immediately when the needle is inserted or withdrawn. In cases associated with a haematoma, pain may not be apparent at the time and may start when the haematoma has reached a sufficient size, some time after insertion of the needle. Symptoms may be worse in certain positions or with certain arm motions. Rarely weakness of the arm may develop.

Demonstration of imputability or root cause:

Occurred during or shortly after donation.

Imputability grade:

2 Probable

Groups audience:

Keywords:

automated red cell collection

blood donation

hemovigilance

hemovigilance definitions

References:

The American Red Cross donor hemovigilance program: complications of blood donation reported in 2006.

Suggest new keywords:

Nerve irritation, automated red cell collection

Reference attachment:

Eder et al, Transfusion, 2008.pdf

Suggest references:

Eder, A.F, Dy, B.A., Kennedy, J.M., Notari,IV, E.P., Strupp, A., Wissel, M.E., Reddy, R., Gibble, J., Haimowitz, M.D., Newman, B.H. Chambers, L.A. Hillyer, C.D. and Benjamin, R.J. (2008). The American Red Cross donor hemovigilance program: complications of blood donation reported in 2006. Transfusion 48(9): 1809-19.

Expert comments for publication:

This was a review of all adverse donor reactions occurring within a one year period in the American Red Cross. The denominator was the number of satisfactory (complete) and incomplete donations. Collections included 6,014,472 whole blood (WB), 49,594 apheresis platelets and 228,183 combinations of automated red cell collections. Overall rates of adverse events were WB: 348/10,000 collections; apheresis platelets: 577/10,000 collections and automated red cells: 538/10,000 collections. Major reactions as defined by outside medical care were for WB: 3.2/10,000; automated red cells: 2.9/10,000; this data was not provided for apheresis platelet collections. No latency period was provided but is assumed to be at the time of donation or shortly after. No alerting signals were provided in the paper but were consistent with the ISBT definitions.