[Hemovigilance: State 2007-2013 Tunis].

INTRODUCTION: Despite its lifesaving role, blood transfusion still has risks associated with it. Hemovigilance is a set of surveillance procedures of the transfusion chain intended to promote safe and effective use of blood components. This work aims to present a descriptive analysis of adverse reactions, which were notified over a period of 5 years (incidence and etiology); to identify malfunctions and to propose corrections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: All transfusion adverse reactions accidents reported to the blood bank of the hospital La Rabta (n=120) are explored (clinical and laboratory tests).

RESULTS: The average age of patients with transfusion reaction was 51.2 years (25 days to 89 years). The transfusion accident rates ranged from 0.59 to 2.19 accidents/1000 labile blood products (LBP) distributed. The investigations were used to classify 71 % of accidents in different categories. The most prevalent reaction is the hemolytic reaction, n=24 (19.8 %), followed by allergic reactions, n=21 (17.5 %) and non-hemolytic feverish reaction, n=19 (15.8 %). Transfusion reactions of grade 1 severity were the most frequent (n=94); followed by those of grade 3 severity (n=16), accidents grade 4 (n=4) including two cases of acute pulmonary edema, one case of hyperkalemia, and the last case classified undetermined.

CONCLUSION: These data are particularly rich in learning lessons. This study identified several levels failures: under-reporting of certain transfusion accidents, malfunctions at certain stages of the transfusion chain. In order to achieve an accurate statement of each transfusion reaction, it is important to plan in-service training.