Acute respiratory distress syndrome in a neonate due to possible transfusion-related acute lung injury

• Main Authors: Arti Maria, Sheetal Agarwal, Anu Sharma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Asian Journal of Transfusion Science
• Subjects: Blood product; complication; newborn; pulmonary; transfusion
• Online Access: http://www.ajts.org/article.asp?issn=0973-6247;year=2017;volume=11;issue=2;spage=203;epage=205;aulast=Maria

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a potentially life-threatening complication of blood component transfusion. It is relatively underdiagnosed entity in neonates with scant literature. We report a case of TRALI in a preterm neonate developing acute respiratory distress within 6 h of blood product transfusion in the absence of preexisting lung disease. Prompt ventilator and supportive management were instituted. The baby showed clinical and radiological improvement within 12 h; however, he succumbed to death due to acute massive pulmonary hemorrhage 36 h later. Possibility of TRALI should be kept if there is sudden deterioration of lung function after blood transfusion.