CANINE RED-BLOOD-CELL TRANSFUSION PRACTICE

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in 307 dogs were reviewed. A total o f 658 units of RBCs, including 474 (72%) units of packed red blood cel ls (PRBCs) and 184 (28%) units of whole blood (WE), were administered. Reasons for transfusion included hemorrhage (n=222), hemolysis (n=43) , and ineffective erythropoiesis (n=42). The mean pretransfusion packe d cell volume (PCV) of dogs with hemolysis (13%) was significantly low er (p less than 0.0001) than the mean pretransfusion PCVs of dogs with hemorrhage (21%) or ineffective erythropoiesis (18%). The mean total volume of PRBCs transfused was significantly greater (p less than 0.03 ) in dogs with hemolysis. Overall, 187 (61%) of 307 dogs were discharg ed from the hospital, Cause of anemia, pretransfusion PCV, and total v olume of blood administered did not appear to influence survival, Howe ver, the mean adjusted posttransfusion PCV of dogs with hemorrhage was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in dogs that survived. Possi ble adverse events were observed during or shortly after RBC transfusi on in 10 (3.3%) dogs, all reactions were mild and self-limiting, and n one were hemolytic.