Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO): Strategies to mitigate the risk of harm (28 June 2024)

Summary

During a blood transfusion and in the 12 hours following the procedure, patients sometimes experience respiratory problems or fluid in the lungs, a condition known as transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO). In April 2024, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) released a patient safety alert about an increasing trend of TACO-related deaths and major morbidity. This article in the journal Patient Safety looks at the occurrence of TACO and recommends strategies to mitigate the risk of patients developing the condition.