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Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload

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Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload, Transfusion Related Circulatory Overload, TACO

  • See Also
  1. Transfusion Complication
  2. Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)
  • Epidemiology
  1. Incidence: 1 to 8% of transfusions
  2. Leading cause of transfusion-associated mortality
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Blood Product Transfusion volume results in Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema
  2. Each unit of Blood Product ranges from 150 to 300 ml and initially, most of this remains intravascular
  3. Infused volumes may be large when multiple units are transfused
  • Risk Factors
  1. Cardiomyopathy or chronic Congestive Heart Failure
  2. Chronic Kidney Disease
  3. Compensated Anemia
  4. Baseline volume overload
  5. Cancer
  6. Anticoagulation Reversal with plasma
  7. Very young (infants) and elderly
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)
  • Signs
  1. Fever
  2. Dyspnea
  3. Tachypnea
  4. Tachycardia
  5. Hypoxemia
  6. Hypertension
  7. Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema related findings (distinguishes TACO from TRALI)
    1. Peripheral Edema
    2. Jugular Venous Distention
  1. Bilateral Pulmonary Infiltrates
  • Labs
  1. NT-BNP elevated
    1. Contrast with normal level in TRALI
  • Management
  1. Manage as acute Cardiogenic Shock
  2. Supportive Care
  • Prevention
  1. Slow transfusion to >4 hours
  2. Decrease transfusion volume
  • References
  1. Raval (2020) Am Fam Physician 102(1):30-8 [PubMed]