A comparative study of conventional vs rapid speed of blood transfusion in cases of chronic severe anemia.

Pulmonary capillary 'wedge' pressure (PCWP) was studied in 20 cases of chronic severe anemia before and after transfusing one unit of blood. They were divided into 2 groups of 10 age and sex matched cases. Blood was transfused at a speed of 2 ml/min in group A and 5 ml/min in group B. Pretransfusion PCWP was normal in all the cases. Following blood transfusion (BT) 'wedge' pressure increased significantly (p less than 0.001) in both the groups being 17.2% and 29.2% in group A and B respectively. The difference in the rise of PCWP between the two groups was not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05). All the cases tolerated BT very well. It is therefore, concluded that transfusion of one unit of blood at a speed of 5 ml/min is nearly as safe as when it is transfused at a rate of 2 ml/min (conventional speed) so far as the cardiopulmonary haemodynamics are concerned.