Transfusion-associated circulatory overload

Transfusion associated circulatory overload
Other namesTACO[1]
Peripheral edema in the lower extremity that can result from volume overload following large volume blood transfusions.
SpecialtyHematology
Symptomsdyspnea, orthopnea, peripheral edema, hypertension.
Usual onsetWithin 12 hours of transfusion

In transfusion medicine, transfusion-associated circulatory overload (aka TACO) is a transfusion reaction (an adverse effect of blood transfusion) resulting in signs or symptoms of excess fluid in the circulatory system (hypervolemia) within 12 hours after transfusion.[2] The symptoms of TACO can include shortness of breath (dyspnea), low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia), leg swelling (peripheral edema), high blood pressure (hypertension), and a high heart rate (tachycardia).[3]

It can occur due to a rapid transfusion of a large volume of blood but can also occur during a single red blood cell transfusion (about 15% of cases).[2] It is often confused with transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), another transfusion reaction. The difference between TACO and TRALI is that TRALI only results in symptoms of respiratory distress while TACO can present with either signs of respiratory distress, peripheral leg swelling, or both.[4] Risk factors for TACO are diseases that increase the amount of fluid a person has, including liver, heart, or kidney failure, as well as conditions that require many transfusions. High and low extremes of age are a risk factor as well.[5][6][7]

The management of TACO includes immediate discontinuation of the transfusion, supplemental oxygen if needed, and medication to remove excess fluid.[8]

  1. ^ Agnihotri, Naveen; Agnihotri, Ajju (2014). "Transfusion associated circulatory overload". Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine. 18 (6): 396–398. doi:10.4103/0972-5229.133938. PMC 4071685. PMID 24987240.
  2. ^ a b Bolton-Maggs, Paula (Ed); Poles, D; et al, on behalf of the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) Steering Group (2017). The 2016 Annual SHOT Report (2017) (PDF). Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT). ISBN 978-0-9558648-9-6.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference autogenerated1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).