Patients presenting with shortness of breath and tachypnea immediately after transfusion should increase suspicion of pulmonary complications. With signs of increased pulmonary venous hydrostatic pressure such as pulmonary edema and pleural effusion, this case is most consistent with transfusion associated circulatory overload. Patients who develop transfusion associated circulatory overload have increased susceptibility to volume overload due to heart failure, renal dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, or positive fluid balance.

This case was submitted with supervision and input from:
Soni C. Chawla, M.D.
Health Sciences Clinical Professor,
Department of Radiological Sciences,
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Attending Radiologist,
Olive View - UCLA Medical Center.