Immediate transfusion incidents: an integrative literature review

This integrative literature review had the objective of analyzing research on the occurrence of immediate transfusion incidents and implemented hemovigilance actions. Data were obtained through database searches of LILACS, MEDLINE and PubMed, for the period of 1980 to 2009, in the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages. We identified 1382 articles, of which 29 met the established inclusion criteria. Of these articles, 20 (69.0%) were retrospective transveral, 8 (27.5%) were prospective, and one (3.5%) was a case control study. In regard to approach, the studies were classified into two thematic foci: types of immediate transfusion incidents, and implemented hemovigilance actions associated with the types of immediate transfusion incidents. The analysis of this work highlighted the higher incidence of febrile nonhemolytic reactions and allergic reactions, the advancement in hemovigilance actions, and greater concern with the quality of care in hemotherapy.