Abstract
Transfusion-related acute lung injury is a serious complication of blood transfusions. Herein is a report on a 32-year-old woman who developed diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and acute respiratory compromise after blood transfusion. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema was diagnosed based on data calculated by the hemodynamic monitoring system, but severe hypoxemia persisted despite conventional pressure-control ventilation with 100% oxygen, low tidal volume, and high PEEP. The refractory hypoxemia was improved by high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. This experience suggests that high-frequency oscillatory ventilation may be beneficial for patients with transfusion-related acute lung injury and severe refractory hypoxemia.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Kuo-Chin Kao MD, Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 5 Fu-Shing Street, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, E-mail: kck0502{at}adm.cgmh.org.tw.
The authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.
Dr Kao presented a version of this paper at the 56th International Respiratory Congress of the American Association for Respiratory Care, held December 6–9, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Copyright © 2012 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.