Blood transfusion associated fatalities

16 post transfusion deaths were studied by reviewing clinical and blood bank records and by postmortem examination whenever possible. 13 of these cases belonged to regional blood bank, 2 were transfused in other hospitals and referred for management of transfusion reactions and one case be longed to other blood bank in the city. 3 deaths could not be attributed to transfusion reaction. Post transfusion endotoxaemia (7 cases) was the most frequent mode of transfusion associated fatality followed by cardiac overload (5 cases) and septicaemia (3 cases). In two cases endotoxaemia coexisted with cardiac overload. The pretransfusion compromised clinical course unfavourably thereby contributing significantly in death. The 3 clinically stable patients succumbed to posttransfusion endotoxaemia. The incidence of transfusion associated fatality in the present institute was 0.028% amongst total transfusions.