Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Multiple red blood cell transfusions in cats - reasons and results
By Roux, Françoise A et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2008·Tufts University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Multiple red cell transfusions in 27 cats (2003-2006): indications, complications and outcomes.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 27 cats received multiple blood transfusions due to serious health issues, with each cat getting an average of three transfusions. The cats were treated for various conditions, including bone marrow failure, surgical loss, and trauma. While some cats had a good chance of recovery, others faced more severe problems, leading to a mix of outcomes—16 cats survived and went home, while 11 did not. Overall, the transfusions were well-tolerated, and many cats showed improvement after treatment.
People also search for: cat blood transfusion recovery · signs of cat anemia · cat surgery blood loss treatment
Abstract
The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the indications, complications and outcomes of multiple red cell transfusions (MrcTs) in cats; of these cats (2) to describe those that received massive transfusion and (3) compare them with those who received MrcTs over a longer time course. Twenty-seven cats were identified which received a total of 110 transfusions, with a median of three transfusions (range 3-15) per cat. The transfusions consisted of 47 units of whole blood and 63 units of packed red blood cells. The median age of cats was 6 years (range 6 months to 15 years). Cats were hospitalized for a median of 6 days, with a range of 1-38 days. No acute transfusion reactions were documented, although due to the critical nature of the cats, they may not have been appreciated. Sixteen cats survived to discharge and 11 died or were euthanased. Indications (and % survival) for transfusions included bone marrow failure (n=8; 50%); surgical loss (n=4; 100%), sepsis (n=3; 0%), neoplasia (n=3; 33%), acute renal failure (n=3; 66%), trauma (n=2; 100%), gastrointestinal bleeding (n=1; 100%), and cats with multiple disease processes (n=3; 33%). MrcTs are well-tolerated in cats and may be associated with a favorable outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18450494/