Transfusion Error in the Gynecology Patient: A Case Review with Analysis

Emergency blood transfusion (EBT) is a life-saving intervention which also carries a significant risk of harm in the event of a transfusion reaction. Our chapter starts with a hypothetical case study of a gynecology patient who underwent emergent hysterectomy with severe hemorrhage managed with an emergency blood transfusion. During the aggressive resuscitation, the patient was inadvertently transfused with blood products that had been allocated for another patient. Through this clinical vignette, we review the operational aspects of an EBT and identify sources of transfusion-related errors. We emphasize best practices that can be implemented with the goal of improved patient safety. This chapter offers a concise, practical review of EBT for our readers.