Haemodynamic changes following blood transfusion in cases of chronic severe anemia: increased safety with simultaneous furosemide administration.

Left ventricular filling pressures as reflected by pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were measured in 20 adult subjects of chronic severe anemia before and after transfusing one unit of blood. The cases were divided into two groups of ten each. In both groups blood was transfused at a speed of 5 ml/mt; group II cases received, in addition, 40 mg furosemide intravenously just before the start of the transfusion. Pretransfusion PCWP was normal in all the cases. Following transfusion, 'wedge' pressure increased significantly (P less than 0.001) in group I but not in group II patients, in whom it actually decreased (P less than 0.001). It is concluded that prior administration of furosemide completely prevents any increase in LVFP following transfusion of one unit of blood at a moderately rapid speed, and makes such a transfusion quite safe, at any rate, so far as pulmonary haemodynamics are concerned.