Surveillance of blood in Norway 2010. TROLL. Complications in blood donors.
Report
|Updated
This sub report is about complications in blood donors. Background and method are described in a separate report.
Key message
The Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services runs the Norwegian Haemovigilance System on behalf of the Norwegian Directorate of Health. One of our tasks is to publish an annual report. The purpose of this report is to form the knowledge basis for the continuous improvement of the transfusion services. This 2010 report is divided into sub reports. This sub report is about complications in blood donors. Background and method are described in a separate report.
A total of 181 reports of complications in blood donors were received in 2010 (82 complications per 100 000 blood donations), 126 systemic and 55 local complications. In most of the reports the blood donor did not have need for medical treatment other than symptomatic treatment at the donation centre.
I nine cases the complication was defined as serious according to the definitions in the European blood directive (4 per 100 000 blood donations). According to the definitions proposed by the Norwegian Haemovigilance Working Group, a total of 38 events were defined as serious (17 per 100 000 blood donations).
Among the systemic complications, 90 reports of donor fainting were received (41 per 100 000 blood donations) and 32 reports on vasovagal reactions without fainting (15 per 100 000 blood donations). In four cases the donor was injured because of the fainting. Four other cases of systemic reactions were reported, among them a case of long-term headache after blood donation, a case of long-term weakness, one citrate reaction and one allergic reaction. In about 21 % of the cases, the donor fainted after leaving the blood centre.
In seventeen cases the blood donor had a nerve injury (8 per 100 000 blood donations). In seven of these cases the donor still had symptoms one week after donation, and in two cases the donor was examined by a specialist in neurology and self-deferred. In addition 18 reports of haematoma, with or without pain, were reported..
In 22 cases (19 local complications and 3 systemic) the duration of the symptoms was more than one week. Long time morbidity was mainly caused by local complications such as haematomas, nerve injuries or arm pain. The three systemic reactions were weakness, headache and dizziness after blood donation.
Female blood donors have about twice the risk of complications as males, both of local and systemic reactions. In addition, young donors, as well as first time donors, seem to have a higher risk, mainly of vasovagal reactions.
In 2010, only one case where the blood donor needed a sick leave was reported. In five cases (2.2 per 100 000 blood donations) the donors needed a medical consultation (by other physician than the blood banks physician) as a result of the complication.
In five cases the donor had to stay some hours in the hospital as a result of the reaction (up to 24 hours) and in 12 cases the donor was examined by the emergency team, without the need for further hospitalization. The main reason for hospitalization was serious vasovagale reaction with or without fainting. In one case the blood donor experienced respiratory and cardiac arrest. The donor received heart compression at the donation site and was hospitalized, but he recovered some hours later.
For discussion, conclusions and recommendations, see the other sub reports.