A handheld rapid infuser device effectively delivers blood products in the management of life-threatening anemia in 6 dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the use of a handheld rapid infuser for the delivery of blood products to anemic dogs in shock.

ANIMALS: 6 dogs that received a packed RBC (pRBC) transfusion with the use of a handheld rapid infuser from August 9, 2023, to April 1, 2024.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: 6 dogs with a median age of 7.5 years and median body weight of 33 kg presenting with hemodynamic instability due to various causes of life-threatening anemia.

RESULTS

The most common reason for transfusion was hemoperitoneum (4 of 6). A median volume of 7.3 mL/kg (range, 4.5 to 10 mL/kg) of pRBCs was delivered over 3.5 minutes (range, 2 to 5 minutes). Five dogs met the criteria for a massive blood transfusion, with a median transfusion rate of 2.13 mL/kg/min (range, 1 to 3.3 mL/kg/min). The post-transfusion median heart rate decreased to 97 beats/min (BPM; IQR, 89 to 99 BPM) from 155 BPM (IQR, 145 to 170 BPM), while the post-transfusion median systolic blood pressure improved to 119.5 mm Hg (IQR, 112 to 127.59 mm Hg) from 76 mm Hg (IQR, 66 to 80 mm Hg). Two dogs were discharged from the hospital, 2 dogs were euthanized, and 2 dogs died. One of the dogs that was discharged from the hospital died at home 3 days later.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The handheld infuser enabled the rapid delivery of pRBCs to dogs with life-threatening anemia, improved perfusion parameters, and resulted in no overt complications during or immediately following the transfusion. Preliminary information suggests that the device can be helpful in administering pRBCs to hemodynamically unstable large-breed dogs. Low survival rates were noted due to clinical severity of diseases and euthanasia.