This information explains nursing discharge instructions for a blood transfusion from the Urgent Care Center (UCC) or the Symptom Care Clinic (SCC).
Blood Transfusion
If you have chest pain, call 911 right away.
If you got your blood transfusion through a vein in your arm or leg, you may have some bruising, redness, or irritation in the area where the needle was. If the bruising, redness, or irritation is painful or getting worse, call your healthcare team.
Blood transfusions can cause an allergic reaction up to 2 days after the transfusion. Call your MSK healthcare team or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- A fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher
- Shaking chills
- Redness and a warm feeling in your face
- Hives, rash, or itching
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Lower back pain
- Nausea (feeling like you’re going to throw up) or vomiting (throwing up)
- Weakness or fainting
- Dark-colored urine (pee)
Your care team may direct you to your regional Symptom Care Clinic (SCC) or the Urgent Care Center (UCC).
Follow up with your MSK healthcare team after discharge.
For more information, visit www.mskcc.org/pe/blood_transfusion
You can search for information on this topic and many others in MSK’s Patient and Caregiver Education library at www.mskcc.org/pe