Patient Safety Movement. Blood product transfusions: Safety concerns and alternatives (1 October 2020)

Summary

The Patient Safety Movement Foundation is joined by Aryeh Shander, from Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in this video.

There has been a long-standing perception in medicine that blood products can be used without judicious consideration. It is important to recognise that blood is a biological product and, as such, is subject to virus, which can be transmitted from donor to recipient without detection. While there have been improvements in transfusion safety, it is important to recognise the patient's risk and benefit ratio based on their individual circumstance and thoroughly evaluate all alternatives to a transfusion.