Transfusion Medicine

Abstract

This chapter introduces the foundations of transfusion medicine and the principles behind donor selection, product collection, compatibility testing, transfusion administration, recognition and treatment of transfusion-related reactions, and alternative methods of blood product use. Canine blood types are classified using the dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) system. Commercially available blood typing kits have made in-house blood type determination possible in both dogs and cats. Cross-matching does not indicate if the donor and the recipient have the same blood type. Canine donors should be young and in good overall health and behavioral standing determined by clinical history and physical exam. Fresh whole blood is utilized for a variety of reasons within veterinary medicine, including replacement therapy in patients who have decreased oxygen-carrying capacity with hypovolemia to a significant degree. A variety of transfusion sets and filters are available for use in veterinary transfusion medicine. Immunological reactions are caused by antigen-antibody interactions between the donor and recipient.