A 4-year-old child with β-thalassemia major is admitted to the pediatric unit for routine blood transfusion. Which assessment finding would be most concerning and require immediate nursing intervention?

Fever with chills during blood transfusion indicates a potential transfusion reaction, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate intervention including stopping the transfusion and notifying the physician.

This question assesses the ability to prioritize assessment findings that may occur during blood transfusion in a child with severe β-thalassemia. Severe β-thalassemia is a serious hereditary hemoglobinopathy caused by insufficient production of beta-globin chains, leading to severe anemia and requiring lifelong transfusion therapy.

The correct answer, 'fever and chills during transfusion,' is a sign of an acute transfusion reaction, which is a medical emergency. Transfusion reactions range from mild allergic reactions to severe hemolytic reactions that can cause shock, renal failure, and death. If fever and chills occur during transfusion, the nurse must immediately stop the transfusion, maintain IV access with normal saline, measure vital signs, and report to the physician.

The pathophysiology of transfusion reactions involves activation of the immune system against foreign antigens in donor blood. Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions are the most common, while hemolytic reactions are rare but can be fatal. The clinical presentation of fever and chills indicates immune system activation and requires immediate evaluation to determine the severity and type of reaction.

From a nursing perspective, this situation demands immediate critical thinking and prioritization. While chronic complications of β-thalassemia are also important, acute transfusion reactions take priority due to the potential for rapid deterioration and life-threatening consequences.

Clinical Context and Priority Setting

This question presents a pediatric patient with β-thalassemia major, a condition characterized by defective hemoglobin production leading to severe anemia and dependence on regular blood transfusions. While some assessment findings are expected manifestations of the underlying disease, others signal an acute, life-threatening complication requiring immediate action. The nurse must differentiate between chronic disease findings and an emergent transfusion reaction.

Analysis of Assessment Findings

The most concerning finding is a fever of 101.2°F (38.4°C) with chills during transfusion. This presentation is a classic hallmark of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction or a febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction, both of which demand immediate cessation of the transfusion ^[1]. The development of fever and chills during the infusion indicates that an immune-mediated response is actively occurring, where the recipient's antibodies are attacking the transfused red blood cells. If the transfusion is not stopped immediately, this can rapidly progress to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), shock, and acute renal failure. The nurse's role in early identification of these complications is critical for patient safety, as a lack of prompt intervention can lead to serious outcomes, including death ^[1].

In contrast, the other options represent expected clinical manifestations of the underlying β-thalassemia major or its long-term management. Mild fatigue and decreased activity level are direct consequences of chronic anemia and reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, which is the very reason for the scheduled transfusion. Pale conjunctiva and nail beds are classic physical examination findings of severe anemia due to reduced hemoglobin. Enlarged spleen palpated 2 cm below the left costal margin reflects splenomegaly, which occurs in β-thalassemia major due to extramedullary hematopoiesis and the spleen's role in sequestering and destroying abnormal red blood cells. While these findings require ongoing monitoring and management, they are chronic issues and do not represent an immediate threat to the patient's life during the current transfusion encounter.

Nursing Intervention and Rationale

The immediate nursing intervention for a suspected transfusion reaction is to stop the transfusion and maintain the intravenous line with normal saline. This is followed by verifying patient and blood product identification, notifying the provider, and monitoring vital signs closely. Evidence-based guidelines emphasize the importance of structured monitoring during blood transfusions to detect such reactions early, as monitoring practices can be inconsistent . A change in vital signs, particularly a new fever with chills, is a sentinel event during a transfusion that overrides all other chronic assessment findings in terms of priority. The pathophysiological mechanism involves the activation of the complement cascade and release of inflammatory cytokines in response to incompatible blood components, which produces the systemic symptoms of fever and rigors.