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Published on: November 9, 2016
Meperidine to control shivering associated with platelet transfusion reaction
1Department of Anaesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Summary
Shivering during blood product transfusion can be dangerous, especially for patients with heart conditions. Meperidine effectively treated these transfusion reactions, preventing potentially disastrous outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions can cause shivering.
- Shivering increases oxygen demand by up to 500%, posing risks to patients with compromised cardiac function.
Observation:
- A patient with a recent myocardial infarction experienced shivering, tachycardia, and hypertension following a platelet transfusion.
- These symptoms indicated a significant physiological stress response.
Findings:
- The observed reaction, characterized by shivering and hemodynamic instability, was potentially life-threatening in a patient with reduced myocardial reserve.
- Intravenous meperidine administration rapidly resolved the shivering and associated cardiovascular changes.
Implications:
- This case highlights the critical need to recognize and promptly manage shivering during blood product transfusions.
- Meperidine is an effective treatment for managing severe shivering and associated hemodynamic disturbances in transfusion reactions.
- Clinicians should consider the potential for severe reactions in vulnerable patient populations.
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